The article discusses the unprecedented rise of Chuck Norris as a cultural meme, particularly after the actor's passing at the age of 86. It reflects on how Norris became the centerpiece of a meme explosion starting in 2005 when Ian Spector, a high school senior, initiated the compilation of humorous "facts" about Chuck Norris on an online forum. These meme creations quickly spread across the internet, making Norris a household name in meme culture.

The piece recounts the prelude to Norris's meme fame, mentioning that prior to this, Vin Diesel had been the focus of internet humor with jokes dubbed "Vin Diesel Facts". The shift towards Chuck Norris illustrates a pivotal change in meme culture during the mid-2000s, marking a shift in how the internet shapes public figures’ legacies through humor and creativity.

After Norris's death, many of these memes resurged on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), underscoring the lasting impact of the phenomenon. The article highlights how these memes not only paid tribute to Norris’s legacy but also demonstrated the powerful role of internet culture in perpetuating the memories of public figures well beyond their lifetimes.