Carl's a mess thanks to some very juicy drama surrounding the cast of the hit reality series Summer House. But who even is Carl, and why is he a mess?

The catchphrase "Carl's a mess" has been going viral across social media lately, thanks to one of the show's stars, Kyle Cooke, and now it's being used in a series of memes that you might not get unless you're an avid watcher of the show.

So, what is the "Carl's a Mess" meme, and where did it come from? Here's what we know.

What Is The 'Carl's A Mess' Meme?

Recently, Summer House stars Amanda Batula and West Wilson announced that they're dating. This came only months after Batula divorced Kyle Cooke, another of the show's co-stars.

Before they confirmed their relationship, many people suspected that Batula and Wilson were hooking up and that Batula had cheated on Cooke with Wilson. While the timeline of their relationship is unconfirmed, many took this as confirmation of the theories.

Cooke was interviewed about the drama by TikToker @adamglyn on April 1st. During the interview, he at one point says, "Carl's a mess." Carl, in this case, refers to Carl Radke, another cast member who is not directly involved in the drama.

According to Summer House fans, Carl has been known to defend Amanda from accusations of infidelity. Presumably, Carl is feeling betrayed after hearing about their relationship, which might explain why Cooke brought him up in the interview.

@adamglyn Part 2 of Kyle Cooke from @Bravo Summer House speaking on the relationship between West and Amanda. #bravo #summerhouse ♬ original sound – Adam Glyn

How Is 'Carl's A Mess' Used In Memes?

The phrase "Carl's a mess" has been spreading online ever since Cooke said it during the interview. Many people simply find the quote funny because it came at such a random moment in the interview, and because Carl is not directly involved in the drama.

As a meme, the phrase is being attached to videos of people who are acting like a mess as a way of comedically pointing out their messiness.

Other memes imply that anyone who's heard the catchphrase can't stop thinking about it, or the drama surrounding Batula and Cooke in general.

What Are Some More 'Carl's A Mess' Memes?

@briellemac “Carl’s a mess” – Kyle Cooke #summerhouse #bravotv #drama #loverboy #summerhousebravo ♬ som original – Dessa Rassam

@paramountplus Carl’s a mess…and so are we! 🤭 Now streaming: The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius #ParamountPlus ♬ original sound – Paramount+

@arielleivyeats Kyle’s fine but carls a mess #summerhouse #amandabatula #carl #hamptons ♬ original sound – arielleivy

@audreytrullinger Carl’s a mess #summerhouse #bravo #summerhousebravo ♬ Lucifer's Waltz – Secession Studios

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For the full history of the Carl's a Mess meme, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.