The Ultra White Monster Energy can went viral largely because of the “sigma male grindset” meme trend that swept TikTok and YouTube between 2020 and 2022. The white can’s clean, minimalist aesthetic perfectly suited the aesthetic of ironic “hustle culture” edits, where drinking White Monster at 6am was treated as peak sigma behaviour. The meme spread fast because it was both absurd and weirdly relatable, and the brand’s own edgy identity made it a natural fit for internet humour. The Ultra White variant in particular became the “cool” can — associated with gym culture, late night gaming sessions, and “no days off” energy.

The “sigma male” meme originated on YouTube and Reddit, describing an archetype of someone who operates outside conventional social hierarchies — the lone wolf who doesn’t need validation. This was quickly merged with ironic humour, especially on TikTok, where creators made montages of “sigma grindset” routines — waking up at 4am, lifting heavy, drinking Monster Energy, and ignoring distractions. The Monster Energy can, especially the Ultra White variety, became a visual shorthand for this persona. By 2021, the sigma Monster meme was one of the most recognisable formats in Gen Z internet humour, spawning thousands of edits, remixes, and spin off formats.

Yes — Monster Energy Ultra White is a zero sugar energy drink, part of Monster’s Ultra line which was specifically created for people who wanted the energy boost without the sugar. It uses artificial sweeteners to maintain its flavour profile (a light, citrus forward taste) while keeping calories minimal. This made it especially popular with gym goers and people watching their sugar intake, which fed into its “clean and disciplined” meme persona. Of course, the plush version contains zero sugar and zero caffeine — just 100% huggable PP cotton.

Monster Energy has spent years deliberately embedding itself in gaming, extreme sports, and fitness through sponsorships, event partnerships, and branding deals. From esports tournaments to MMA events and motocross competitions, Monster has consistently shown up wherever young, high energy audiences gather. The brand cultivated a “counter culture” image that resonated with gamers who associated it with late night sessions and focused performance, and gym communities who valued the caffeine hit. Over time, this created genuine cultural affinity — and internet meme culture turned that affinity into something even bigger, with the can itself becoming a recognisable icon regardless of whether someone actually drinks it.

Yes — novelty and meme plushies have seen a massive surge in popularity on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts, driven by “unboxing” content, meme merchandise hauls, and the broader trend of turning internet jokes into physical objects. The Monster Energy plush sits perfectly within this trend: it’s visually distinctive, immediately recognisable, and deeply tied to a specific slice of internet culture. Creators have used similar novelty food and brand plushies as background props, reaction pieces, and gift content, making them consistently consistently viral objects. If you’re looking for content that lands, a monster plushie in frame tends to earn comments.