I believe incels co-opted and elevated Chads (using it to essentially refer to guys who have sex) and it became memed outside of just the incel community.
Exactly! My understanding is the incels believe women are responding favorably to that asshole behavior thus the connection to the original meaning but also how it tied into their obsession. Not sure that way of thinking has worked out well for anyone save for being a redemption arc for the Chads of the world.
https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/virgin-vs-chad-meme/