A quirky and captivating meme called the Eye of Ra has taken TikTok and other social media platforms by storm, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about trends of early 2025. The meme originated from a photoshopped image of TikToker Rashad Bowens, known for his fiery red dreadlocks and unique reaction videos.
The Eye of Ra meme features Bowens edited to have a single, cyclopean eye in the center of his forehead, referencing the Egyptian symbol of the Eye of Ra. This emblem, typically depicted as a sun disk, represents the power of the sun god Ra in Egyptian mythology and is believed to be a force capable of both destruction and creation.
The trend began with TikTok and Instagram user Jeremiah Springfield, who took a popular video of Bowens and transformed it using clever edits. Springfield gave Bowens a flame-like haircut and added the iconic single eye, likening the meme to the mythical Eye of Ra.
Bowens, whose TikTok and Instagram accounts are @lilbotheme and @bothemess, initially went viral with a December 2022 video in which he humorously interrupted a cooking tutorial, shouting, “Ay, yo, chill the f*ck out, yo!” Springfield later modified this clip, uploading it on November 26, 2024, with the cyclopean eye and a red dread styled straight up. The edit exploded in popularity, amassing over 1.8 million plays and 292,000 likes.
A TikTok user, @zketchum, solidified the name by commenting “Eye of Ra” on Springfield’s video, a reference to the Egyptian deity’s legendary power. This sparked a cascade of similar posts, with other creators adding their own twists to the meme.
The Eye of Ra meme gained even more traction when Instagram user @skaxta shared an intense version with fiery CapCut effects, earning over 451,100 likes by December 2024. By January 2025, the meme began merging with other TikTok trends like I Bought a Property in Egypt
One notable example combining these trends, uploaded by TikToker bob911_ on January 4, 2025, garnered over 2.4 million views, showcasing the meme’s widespread appeal.
The viral success of the Eye of Ra meme lies in its blend of humor, mythology, and surreal editing. While some viewers are puzzled by its sudden rise, others are drawn to its creativity and connection to internet culture.
As TikTok continues to churn out unpredictable viral trends, the Eye of Ra stands as a testament to how even the quirkiest ideas can capture the world’s attention, blending humor and mythology into a digital phenomenon.