Ah, language. It’s an ever-evolving, living beast that changes and grows—aligned with how we speak, our culture, location, and identity. And it’s pretty rad! Sometimes there comes along a phrase or term so genius that we have to adopt it, or so culturally specific that we have to try to wrap our minds around it. Kind of like the word “simp.”
What Is A Simp?
A “simp” is a dude who sacrifices so much in order to gain the love or attention from a woman who simply won’t give it to him (and perhaps has nothing to actually offer him). Instead, they friendzone him or ignore him altogether. It’s not all about romance, either. It’s about the fact that he keeps trying (and perhaps feels entitled to) despite her clear signals.
According to Stay Hipp, the term is super popular these days — especially in gaming or Internet culture, and in hip hop. Artists like Lil Wayne and Megan Thee Stallion have use “simp” in their lyrics to refer to needy, annoying men.
It’s pretty multilayered. And the Internet is littered with references:
The life of a simp: pic.twitter.com/2X8hEyDb5o
— ibraheem (@ibraheemahmed66) March 2, 2020
stop calling me a f*cking simp. it’s pure coincidence that i agree with every girl.
— nopeify (@nopeifyaltalt) March 1, 2020
star wars episode 3: revenge of the simp
— Prince Daddy & The Hyena (@Pdaddynthehyena) March 1, 2020
you’ve heard of the avengers…
now meet the Simp Squad™ pic.twitter.com/TcFs06DX8l
— yeet lover’s pizza (@chunkyfila) February 27, 2020
Apparently, almost anything can get you put into the category these days:
My friend fell in love at the bar last night and he can’t remember her name. Twitter do your thing and help my simp of a friend find love pic.twitter.com/SnlI7Uc5PH
— Nick Wisinski (@NWisinski) March 2, 2020
Brb re-evaluating my life after being called a simp thousands of times pic.twitter.com/ydHiMW830r
— Steady Flyer (@SteadyFlyer) February 26, 2020
Acts of romance are borderline simp‚ at least on the Internet.
no skater would ruin their griptape to simp this hard… https://t.co/aFLE2kI5qe
— Mystic Angel EP – March 13 (@compleee) March 2, 2020
The references can be deep and specific. On Regular Show, Mordecai is seen as the king simp—always chasing.
It’s been a while since I made one a these.
The case of one Mordecai the Simp. pic.twitter.com/nRbf1m1nSh
— The Great Beanzaru (@Coblin_Toota) February 26, 2020
But it goes even deeper, as there’s a lot of character and game talk including the term on the Internet.
Can we talk about about how Rigby is kind of a “simp” for Mordecai? He’s always clinged to him. Yeah they’re friends, but it’s cannon that if not for Rigby’s constant meddling (the university rejection thing for instance), Mordecai would’ve moved on pic.twitter.com/LmD4RZeNZK
— oneforall (@oneforall14A) February 27, 2020
On TikTok, the hashtag #SimpNation has racked up over 66 million views as people joke and troll each other.
Self-described simps also use the term “Simp Nation,” either embracing the term or as a joking self-own.
The thing is, love, care, and romantic gesture are good things (although stalking and obsession are not). So maybe we need to be careful not to throw the word “simp” around so often?
Saw a tweet where apparently some dumbass thinks that not cheating and being loyal in a relationship is simping. Can we as a species ban the word simp from existence please thank you
— Adam (@PIasmaAdam) March 2, 2020
PSA:You’re not a simp for liking a girl and showing her affection, that’s normal, your not a simp for trying to be around the girl you like, that’s normal, you are a simp if you ben over backwards for her every need, I’m so tired for the homies being called simps over normal shit
— just_a_guy_named_ijsaiah (@ijsaiah) March 2, 2020
can we not use the words white knighting and simp to mean that any and all acts of decency towards women are only done w the goal of sex?
— uvi (@cumgod420) February 26, 2020
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