The 'Punch the monkey sad' meme originates from a video featuring a Japanese monkey named Punch, who goes through a series of interactions with an orange plush toy. This series of interactions includes wrestling, sitting, and eventually embracing the toy, all set against the melancholy tune of "Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby" by Cigarettes After Sex. The contrast between the monkey's erratic behavior and the soothing music creates a humorous yet poignant scene that resonates with many people. This video initially gained attention for its emotional depth and quickly became a meme template that others use to express their own struggles with emotional instability and stress.