AboutWhat does the meme depict?

The phrase 'I Was Only Pretending To Be Retarded' is frequently used to declare that someone was deliberately being contentious or absurd to troll others. This claim often serves as a dubious excuse when one is criticized or called out for inappropriate comments. It is also a recognized element in greentext stories, indicating an unsuccessful attempt to backtrack on trolling tactics. This meme typically features a simplistic stick figure comic, where one figure behaves in an exaggerated foolish manner in front of others, who responds negatively before the first figure claims they were 'only pretending.'

OriginWho did it first?

The meme 'I Was Only Pretending To Be Retarded' originated from a stick figure comic that first appeared in 2009. In the comic, a stick figure behaves outlandishly in front of two other figures. Following a reproach from one of the figures, the main stick figure reveals that the behavior was just an act. The initial documented use of this comic is from November 29th, 2009, on 4chan's /a/ (Anime and Manga) board as presented in this archived post.^[1]

Origin: 2009