Autism Creature

Fictional character

Autism Creature

The Autism Creature

First appearance|

* Twitter post
* January 2021

Created by| @acmeiku

The Autism Creature, also known as the TBH Creature or Yippee, is a fictional creature from Internet memes originating in 2021. The character became popular with people on the autism spectrum online, becoming a symbol of the online autistic community.

## History[edit]

In January 2021, the original drawing of the creature was shared on Twitter.[1] By 2022, it had gained substantial popularity on Tumblr,[2] and it had been nicknamed "Yippee" due to a meme video featuring the creature being blasted with confetti with a "yippee" soundbite playing.[3]

## Association with autism[edit]

As the character grew in popularity, it gained traction among the autistic community. This association has been attributed to the fact that the creature has a neutral expression despite its whimsical nature, which may be relatable to some people who struggle to express emotions through facial expressions.[3] In addition, the Autism Creature has been used as a digital paper doll, with online users editing the original image to represent themselves.[2] In representing autism in a positive manner, some users consider the Autism Creature as a tool for promoting acceptance.[4]

In some memes, the Autism Creature has been depicted interacting with Ashbie Moon, another meme character with autism.[2]

## Controversy[edit]

Some members of the autistic community have criticized the meme for a variety of reasons. The creature's neutral and emotionless face has been considered a negative stereotype,[2] and it has been criticized as not being an accurate representation of the autistic community's diversity.[4] The use of the term "Creature" has also been described as dehumanizing.[5]

In addition, the character's popularity has lead to images of it being used in merchandise, sometimes by non-autistic people. This has been criticized as commercial exploitation.[4]

## See also[edit]

* Autistic art
* Wojak

## References[edit]

1. ^ "What Is the Autism Creature (aka TBH, TBH Creature, Yippee)?". www.abacenters.com. 2022-06-21. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
2. ^ a b c d "Autism Creature: What is the Yippee creature?". The Arise Society. 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
3. ^ a b "What is the Yippee/TBH Creature?". National Autism Resources. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
4. ^ a b c "What Is the Autism Creature (aka TBH Creature or Yippee)". www.abtaba.com. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
5. ^ "What Is the Autism Creature (TBH Creature or Yippee)?". www.crossrivertherapy.com. Retrieved 2024-05-04.