📖 Trend ExplainedStage: 🚀 Brands

Punch the Monkey

Baby monkey, plush orangutan, the whole internet as his emotional support.

Source: @Euphorbia10182 · Oct 15, 2026Open source

What does "Punch the Monkey" mean?

Punch the Monkey is a baby Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo who went viral in February 2026 for clinging to a plush orangutan after his mother abandoned him, and for getting pushed around when he joined the troop. One clip of him being dragged passed 11 million views in a day. The meme has faded since: by his first birthday in July 2026, Punch the Monkey had let go of the toy and made friends.

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Punch the Monkey

Punch the Monkey: a frame of the original post by @Euphorbia10182 on X

📖 Trend ExplainedPunch the Monkey

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