Today Marks 10 Years Since Harambe's Death

In 2016, the world changed forever. No, not because of political divides, space discoveries, the Olympics, or the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series. 10 years ago today, the gorilla Harambe was killed.

The chain of events began on May 28, 2016, when a small child climbed into the gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo and then fell into the moat. Zoo officials ordered all gorillas to return to their indoor habitats. While most obeyed, Harambe remained, curious about the child. As onlookers screamed and shouted, Harambe grew increasingly agitated. Eventually, he began carrying and dragging the toddler, which could have led to harm. Fearing for the child's safety, zoo staff shot and killed Harambe. Notably, Harambe had celebrated his 17th birthday just the day before.

The aftermath quickly unfolded online, as the incident was recorded and posted on YouTube. The zoo faced backlash from animal rights activists over its decision. Many who saw the video questioned whether Harambe was behaving aggressively and believed he posed no danger to the boy. The child's parents were also the subject of scrutiny for allowing the child to be out of their sight long enough to crawl into the enclosure.

This rapidly spread on social media and set the stage for what happened next: a serious tragedy soon became enshrined in memes and hashtags. Social media enabled millions to see Harambe, and he became a mythic figure on the internet. Mourning the gorilla was something that everyone could participate in; everyone was in on the joke. As time went on and his fame grew, the idea of Harambe became the joke itself.

As meme culture grew, the symbolism surrounding Harambe expanded. For some, Harambe's death seemed to mark a point of no return. His death has been named in multiple conspiracy theories, both seriously and as a joke, including the idea that the universe's timeline diverged on that day.

Even now, a decade later, Harambe remains ever-present in the hearts and minds of internet users. The gorilla is impossible to forget. The joke might not be quite as fresh as it once was, but it still retains relevance. On May 27, 2026, the White House account on X posted about the late ape, calling him a "true patriot." Although the White House is currently calling Harambe "a symbol of loyalty, strength, chaos, unity, and the strange beauty of the internet," Trump said on the campaign trail in 2016 that the zoo had no choice but to kill the gorilla.

The lasting discourse around Harambe illustrates a tragedy that forever marked a shift in the internet. For those who remain offline, Harambe may have been just a passing memory, but his impact is a reminder of how powerful the internet can be.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 6:00 AM.