The year 2016 has been the year of Harambe. The gorilla that was shot and killed after a three-year-old climbed and fell in the enclosure and feared Harambe would harm the kid. Harambe is still in the news, but not for animal rights reasons. Instead, Harambe has become a widely popular internet meme and joke.
"Grandpa, what was 2016 like?"
*sirens blare, the phrase 'dicks out for Harambe' flashes over and over in my mind*
Me: I don't remember— bradley (@traitorbaby) August 15, 2016
The “joke” has already gotten out of hand, and now Snapchat is potentially making it worse or better depending on which side of the issue you are on.
https://twitter.com/OldRowSports/status/771094299798757376
Snapchat hasn’t claimed the filter is fake, so only time will tell if students will be able to use the filter when North Carolina State Football opens its season at home against William and Mary at 7:30 pm EST.
NC State isn’t the first school to have Harambe make headlines on campus already either.
https://twitter.com/mekosoff/status/770643172573736960
At Eastern Kentucky University, students have created a petition to name the school’s new residence hall, you guessed it, “Harambe Hall.” Here’s what the petition says:
“This year we lost someone that meant a great deal to all of us. Remembering the gentle creature that had his life taken so soon, would make EKU look amazing. Renaming New Hall to Harambe Hall would be a great step forward for EKU and its lack of small plans.”
At Temple University, freshmen have already begun to decorate their dorm windows with pictures and tributes of Harambe.
Outside the college world, one professional golfer has shown his support as well.
Smylie Kaufman, 24, published a picture to his Snapchat on Monday of his new Cleveland wedge. What’s the significance of the wedge? Well, it says “RIP HARAMBE” on it.
This weekend, the first ESPN College Gameday of the season will be at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The chances someone brings a Harambe sign are probably 100%. After all, Harambe signs are already showing up at concerts.
Earlier this week, news came out the meme may never die either if the Philadelphia Zoo has a say. The zoo announced a “name the gorilla” contest after a new baby western lowland gorilla, the same species as Harambe, was born.
#phillyzoo welcomes new addition to our family: a western lowland gorilla baby https://t.co/ftzcRbyvuP #philagorilla pic.twitter.com/vqw6cOcZqS
— Philly Zoo (@phillyzoo) August 31, 2016
Unsurprisingly, the zoo received a lot of “Harambe” and “Harambe Jr.” submissions.
