SJRB
Gold Member
Timeline: Post-Harambe "Downward Spiral"
May 28, 2016: Harambe's Death
- A 3-year-old boy falls into the Gorilla World enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo. Harambe, a 17-year-old western lowland gorilla, drags the child through a moat. Fearing for the boy's life, zoo staff shoot Harambe dead, as tranquilizers were deemed too slow and risky. The incident, captured on video, sparks global outrage over the zoo's decision, parental negligence, and animal welfare.
- Immediate aftermath: Petitions like "Justice for Harambe" gain nearly 500,000 signatures, and hashtags #JusticeForHarambe and #RIPHarambe trend on social media. Public debate focuses on whether the zoo had no choice (supported by experts like Jane Goodall and Jack Hanna) or if alternatives were ignored.
- Harambe becomes a viral internet meme, initially as a tribute but quickly turning irreverent. Memes include photoshopped images with celebrities, song parodies (e.g., rewriting Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody"), and phrases like "Dicks out for Harambe." A group of Ohio teens prank Google Maps to rename their school's street "Harambe Drive."
- The meme's tone shifts from mourning to absurd humor, reflecting a growing nihilistic streak in online culture. Some see it as a critique of media's short attention span, with users vowing not to let Harambe be forgotten.
- Harambe's death is jokingly tied to a "timeline split," where the world enters a chaotic reality. This coincides with a divisive U.S. presidential election, where Donald Trump's victory over Hillary Clinton shocks many. Memes claim Harambe's death "caused" Trump's win, reflecting disillusionment with politics.
- Other 2016 events amplify the "cursed timeline" narrative: the Pulse Nightclub shooting (49 deaths), Brexit, and the rise of Pepe the Frog as a hate symbol. The "This is Fine" dog meme, depicting apathy amid chaos, gains traction alongside Harambe memes.
- Rumors spread that 10,000+ people wrote in Harambe's name for president, though this is debunked. In Australia, jokes about Harambe as a write-in candidate emerge.
- Harambe remains a recurring meme, with annual tributes on May 28 trending on social media. Memes evolve to jokingly blame Harambe's death for global woes, like political polarization and cultural absurdity.
- The Cincinnati Zoo deletes its Twitter account in 2016 due to relentless trolling but resumes it later. Zoo director Thane Maynard pleads for memes to stop, citing staff trauma, but the internet persists.
- Cultural artifacts emerge: Elon Musk releases a song "RIP Harambe," and a parody game "Harambe vs. Capcom" pits the gorilla against Street Fighter characters.
- On May 28, 2020, blogs like @tlbodine on Tumblr mark the fourth anniversary, tying Harambe's death to a "dark timeline" amid the George Floyd protests, COVID-19 pandemic, and Trump's social media executive order. The narrative grows that Harambe's death marked a societal snap toward nihilism and chaos.
- Memes absurdly link Harambe to events like the pandemic, toilet paper shortages, and political unrest, cementing his status as a symbol of a world gone wrong.
- By the fifth anniversary (2021), Harambe is called "2016's meme of the year" by Vox and People, immortalized on baseball jerseys and Trevor Bauer's cleats. Social media posts mourn him as a "legend," with some joking his death caused events like the January 6 Capitol attack or the GameStop stock surge.
- Reddit threads on r/OutOfTheLoop discuss Harambe's outsized cultural impact, noting it as a satirical flashpoint for a world overwhelmed by bad news. Some memes falsely claim racial motives in the zoo's decision, which are debunked but add to the controversy.
- On the eighth anniversary (2024), a documentary "HARAMBE" screens at Ludlow's Esquire Theater, critiquing zoo captivity. It reflects ongoing debates about animal rights and zoo safety. The U.S. Department of Agriculture had deemed the zoo's barrier outdated, leading to post-incident upgrades like nylon mesh and cameras.
- As of May 28, 2025, X posts mark the ninth anniversary, with users like @The_Facts_Dude and @AskPerplexity noting Harambe's death as a trigger for memes, debates, and a sense of cultural decline. The phrase "timeline split" persists, humorously blaming Harambe's death for events like the Taliban's return, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, or Fortnite dances.
for Harambe. RIP.
