About

Sigma Lion, also known as The Lion Does X, refers to a series of image macro memes based on black-and-white images of a lion, and sometimes other animals, in which he is depicted as a sigma character displaying sociopathic behavior. Started by the The Lion Rapes the Small Dog When It Barks in late February 2025, the image macro format achieved wider popularity on TikTok and X in April 2025.

Origin

Sigma Lion memes are a development of the The Lion Rapes the Small Dog meme which first achieved popularity in late February 2025. The meme is based on "The Lion Does Not Turn Around When the Small Dog Barks," a popular sigma grindset quote that inspired various image macros throughout the 2010s and 2020s.^[1][2] The earliest found post of the edited image (shown below) was made on November 17th, 2024.^[3]

The image achieved virality in February and March 2025, inspiring various memes that referenced it. For example, on March 1st, 2025, X^[4] user @realKalos posted a joke that gained over 230 reposts and 3,800 likes in six days.

On April 2nd 2025, TikTok^[5] user @notdanilo22 posted the earliest discovered meme within the trend that deviated from the original punchline. The post (shown below), set to a slowed version of "If You Care" by akiaura received over 395,000 views and 72,000 likes in two weeks (shown below).

Spread

On April 4th, 2025, @notdanilo22^[6] posted a similar Balkan meme that garnered over 600,000 views and 112,000 likes in two weeks (shown below).

The initial posts were followed by other TikTok users creating memes featuring lions and other animals that copied the "sigma" aesthetic. For example, on April 7th, 2025, TikTok^[7] user @schizowear.com posted a Sigma meme based on a black-and-white image of a wolf that garnered over 3.5 million views and 564,000 likes in one week (shown below).

Following viral popularity on TikTok, Sigma Lion memes saw further spread on X, Instagram and other platforms through reposts. For example, on April 14th, 2025, X^[8] account @ShitpostGate reposted a meme earlier posted by TikTok^[9] user @anonymous_bigguy. The post garnered over 2,900 reposts and 68,000 likes in one day.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References