14+ Lion Yelling At Monkey Memes: The Best Templates For Unilateral Emotional Output

What is the "Lion Yelling At Monkey" Meme?

The Lion Yelling At Monkey (or Lion Screaming At Monkey) meme—also categorized under the Ragebait Meme umbrella—is a dual-panel image macro used to depict extreme emotional asymmetry. It features a high-contrast juxtaposition: a roaring lioness representing externalized rage and a seated chimpanzee symbolizing internalized composure.

The visual components of the meme originated as separate wildlife stock-style photographs. Before its viral transformation, the template circulated within "boomer" Facebook circles as sincere inspirational content about "keeping calm under pressure." According to Know Your Meme, the format shifted toward irony in early 2024. It functions as a direct evolution of the "Small Brain Man Screaming at Big Brain Man" archetype, but with a more visceral, animalistic aesthetic that resonates with modern "shitposting" culture.

The meme is primarily utilized to illustrate the power dynamic of indifference. Key use cases include:

Rage Baiting Dynamics: The most prominent application involves the caption: "How it feels to successfully rage bait someone." Here, the screaming lion represents the "victim" who provided the desired emotional reaction, while the monkey represents the "troll" enjoying the resulting engagement.
Stoicism vs. Volatility: It serves as a visual shorthand for situations where one party provides massive emotional output (anger, lecturing, or panic) while the receiver remains entirely unaffected.
The "IDGAF" Attitude: Beyond interpersonal conflict, it contrasts high-stress environments (the lion) with a "monk-mode" or detached mindset (the monkey), often used in financial or corporate contexts.