Why Are TikTokers Comparing 'Don Toliver' To 'Dr. Nefario' From 'Despicable Me?' The Viral Meme Explained

Musical artist Don Toliver has become the unexpected subject of memes on TikTok after a video of his performance at Rolling Loud 2024 went viral on the app. The memes are comparing Don Toliver to Dr. Nefario, a character from the Despicable Me franchise known for his goggles and very distinct chin and neck. So when did these comparisons start and why are they going so viral? Here's what we know.

Why Are TikTokers Comparing Don Toliver to Dr. Nefario?

In March 2024, Don Toliver performed at Rolling Loud 2024. The full performance was uploaded to the Rolling Loud YouTube page that month and while many were impressed with his performance, a moment around the 32-minute mark stuck out to some viewers. Particularly, TikToker @tyllauhhh1 shared the clip on the app in mid-April, captioning it, "Don look like Dr. Nefario" to the tune of over 2 million likes.

In the clip, the camera zooms in on Toliver several times as he's giving a passionate performance of his song "Too Many Nights." Toliver appears sweaty from the performance and as he sings, his jaw seems to jut forward, arguably making his neck and chin somewhat resemble Dr. Nefario. Couple that with the sunglasses and the comparison clicked with viewers, who decided to run with the meme.

How Are 'Don Toliver and Dr. Nefario Comparisons' Used In Memes?

The first meme inspired a wave of follow-up memes across TikTok, with pretty much all of them comparing Toliver to Dr. Nefario. Some of them simply put the clip next to images of Nefario, while others wonder how Toliver managed to start dating Kali Uchis, further digging at the musician's looks. At least one TikToker went another route and compared Toliver to Slimer from Ghostbusters, which again, isn't the most flattering comparison.

The audio from Toliver's Rolling Loud performance has also become a viral lip dub track, in which users apply a filter to their face that alters their chins to exaggeratedly resemble Toliver's and lip sync to the track alongside a caption further making fun of his looks. Ultimately, the memes might be seen as a bit mean spirited, but they're going viral nevertheless as many are unable to forget about that original comparison to Dr. Nefario.

For the full history of the Don Toliver, Dr. Nefario Comparisons, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.