What's With The 'Frank Heffley Schizophrenia' Memes? The Viral Theory About The 'Diary Of A Wimpy Kid' Dad Explained

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid franchise has a new meme. It's based on a viral theory that the dad, Frank Heffley, is schizophrenic.

A series of creepy edits have landed on TikTok, treating Frank Heffley's condition like a newly born creepypasta. Actor Steve Zahn, who plays the character in the movies, has an expressive face and a rambunctious personality. His acting has alluded to some that there's something sinister bubbling beneath the surface.

So, where did this viral theory come from? Why do people think that Frank Heffley has schizophrenia? What are the memes about it like on TikTok? Let's explain.

Where Did The 'Frank Heffley Schizophrenia' Theory Come From?

As far as we know, the earliest post to hint at Frank Heffley's schizophrenia was shared by TikToker @ledge0679 in late 2023. The video used a scene from the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie in which Heffley's talking to some empty seats that Greg and his wife were just occupying.

The TikToker compared the scene to a hallucination, as if Frank took his schizophrenia medication halfway through the play, only to discover that his wife and kid were an elaborate delusion all along.

@ledge0679 what did he say?! #frankheffley #diaryofawimpykid #real #relatable #show #foryoupage #foryou #fyp #ledge0679 ♬ original sound – ledge0679

Who Started The 'Frank Heffley Schizophrenia' Edits On TikTok?

The viral TikTok trend that's taken root this month seemingly started with an edit shared by @spookiedookieson two weeks ago. The edit pieced together a bunch of Frank Heffley scenes showing the character losing his cool.

But the trend isn't "Frank Heffley crashout." It's instead based on Frank's imagined mental illness because of the eerie aesthetic that the edit is shrouded in. The clips are run through a grainy, black-and-white filter and an unsettling horror song plays in the background.

@spookiedookieson an enigma – @Zachary Gordon #diaryofawimpykid #frankheffley #real #horrortiktok #blowthisupforme #fypシ゚viral ♬ Frank Heffley – spookie

How Has The 'Frank Heffley Schizophrenia' Trend Evolved?

Since then, a slew of Frank Heffley edits have landed on the app which all portray the family man as a psychopathic nutjob who might just be self-fabricating the entire Diary of a Wimpy Kid universe. The edits seem to attest that the final scene in the film franchise or children's book series could have been Frank waking up in a straightjacket, convulsing as nurses rush to him.

Although it sounds dark, it's a fun reimagining of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid franchise. Plus, it's mixing with a bunch of trendy "-core" edit genres, like Fiber Optic Cable Core and Lobotomy Core, all being used to express the sinister underbelly of Frank.

The edits also seem to stem from so-called SueTok which went viral last month. The "-Tok" subgenre involves bastardized clips of Sue Heck, from the American sitcom The Middle, shouting, "I just won a contest!" The trend has led to new memes like the equally unnerving We Just Got 8 Free Pizzas.

@georgefatty222 #fyp #frankheffley #frankheffleyedit #diaryofawimpykid #foryoupage #schizophrenic #schizophrenia ♬ original sound – georgefatty222

@not_spife #eightpizzas #frankheffley #schizophrenic #frankheffleyschizo #memestiktok ♬ Frank Heffley – spookie

What Is 'Schizoposting?'

Schizoposting is the name for memes that use the unstable reality of schizophrenia as a theme. The prefix "schizo-" is used to describe anything that alludes to severe mental illness online, like Schizowhips, for one.

Memes about being schizophrenic tap into people's curiosity about the condition. The idea of hearing voices, seeing figures like the Hatman and having hostile, paranoid delusions, like someone being in your walls, is prime for meme exploitation. It's just so absurd that people have to meme about it to rationalize it.

The Frank Heffley Schizophrenia memes fall into this genre. They insert the general public's interest in schizophrenia into a widely beloved franchise, possibly unlocking for some younger internet users their innate curiosity in the condition for the first time.

@hxiii_aep Frank schizophrenic #frankheffley #diaryofawimpykid #schizophrenic #fyp ♬ original sound – hexi

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For the full history of Frank Heffley Schizophrenia, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.