It’s been one whole year without Harambe, internet.
Sunday marked 365 days since the silverback gorilla was shot at the Cincinnati Zoo after a four-year-old fell into its enclosure.
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The incident has become an iconic moment in pop culture, drawing criticism from both sides of the argument. While some blame the child’s parents, others believe it was right to shoot the gorilla.
A swathe of others believed that the Zoo should bear the brunt of the legal charges.
But the internet doesn’t forget, especially when Harambe is the topic of conversation.
One Year Ago Today: We lost a great one. RIP Harambe pic.twitter.com/loTqPM2VGO
— Gentleman’s Handbook (@ImThatGentleman) May 28, 2017
It’s the one year anniversary of Harambe’s death…
Gone but not forgotten. Rest In Peace.
— Jack Dunlop (@CouRageJD) May 28, 2017
I can’t believe it’s already been a year. We miss you buddy. #Harambe pic.twitter.com/bpNwK00yhm
— Ray 😀 (@RayNarvaezJr) May 28, 2017
Today marks one year since his murder, and we still don’t know what #Harambe had on Hillary. pic.twitter.com/9nhtYgy8Py
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) May 28, 2017
Disgruntled Twitter users targeted Cincinnati Zoo’s page after the institution decided not to hold a public memorial for the gorilla. Or mention the name of the gorilla at all on social media.
@CincinnatiZoo Thank you. Great way to honor the troops and honor the 1 year anniversary of the death of Harambe.
— Ronaldo Simons (@RealRnldoSimons) May 28, 2017
@CincinnatiZoo Is this your way of honoring harambe?
— Kyle
(@kylemusicgamer) May 28, 2017
@CincinnatiZoo Just think of how far Harambe could of come in a year if you guys hadn’t shot him…..
— Alex Middleton (@AlexJMiddleton) May 28, 2017
Harambe became a cult figure in 2016 after the incident, in a year that saw many celebrity deaths.
Sunday marked 365 days since the silverback gorilla named Harambe was shot at the Cincinnati Zoo
A Twitter Moments page remembering the gorilla through song lyrics also featured on the social network a few weeks after its death, preceded by a few odd photoshopped images of 2016’s victims.
*michael jackson voice*
harambe is not a killer
he’s just an ape who got shot dead with a gun
the kid was a runaway son— extremely sad nick (@TSN_Jorts) June 23, 2016
RIP to the legends #2016deaths pic.twitter.com/jdPoRTPp2G
— WORLDSTARHIPHOP (@WORLDSTAR) June 7, 2016
A year on, the meme is slowly retarding in use, with the likes of Roll Safe and Blinking Guy outweighing the use of Harambe’s macro. That doesn’t quite mean that the meme has gone the way of the gorilla though.
The Cincinnati Zoo is set to launch an expanded gorilla exhibit next month.
“Since the tragic death of Harambe last Saturday, thousands of people have asked how they can help gorillas in the wild. As a result, the Cincinnati Zoo is redoubling its efforts to support gorilla conservation and encouraging others to join us,” the zoo announced in a statement after the incident.
