🦍

Gorilla

gΙ™-RIL-Ι™
Animals & Nature Unicode 3.0 common

Meanings

1
Animals Β· Mammals Common

Represents a gorilla, a large, powerful primate native to Africa. Used literally to refer to gorillas or zoos, or figuratively to symbolize strength, power, or intimidation.

Often used in wildlife discussions, zoo visits, or as a metaphor for physical strength and dominance.

Just watched a documentary about mountain gorillas 🦍 - such intelligent creatures! πŸ“‹ Social media post about wildlife
Hit the gym today, feeling like a 🦍 after that workout! πŸ“‹ Fitness post on Instagram
The new security guard is built like a 🦍 - nobody's causing trouble on his watch. πŸ“‹ WhatsApp group chat

Gained significant cultural prominence after the 2016 Harambe incident, which transformed this emoji into a complex internet meme symbol.

2
Internet Culture Β· Memes Common

Used as an internet meme reference, particularly in relation to Harambe, cryptocurrency communities, or to express tribal solidarity in online groups.

Often appears in comment sections, cryptocurrency discussions, or gaming communities as an in-group signal.

Diamond hands πŸ’ŽπŸ™Œ Apes together strong 🦍🦍🦍 πŸ“‹ Reddit r/wallstreetbets community
RIP Harambe 🦍 Never forget πŸ“‹ Social media memorial post

The 'ape together strong' meme from Planet of the Apes films has made this emoji popular in investing communities, particularly around GameStop and AMC stocks.

Combos with 🦍

🦍πŸ’ͺ
Extreme strength, power, or dominance in physical contexts.
Used in fitness communities to represent impressive physical achievements or goals.
🦍🦍🦍
Apes together strong; collective strength through numbers.
Popular in investing communities to express solidarity against institutional investors.
πŸ’ŽπŸ™ŒπŸ¦
Diamond hands ape; refusing to sell stocks despite volatility.
Originated in r/wallstreetbets during GameStop stock rally to encourage holding positions.
πŸ¦πŸš€
Apes to the moon; expectation of massive stock price increases.
Used by retail investors to express optimism about stock performance.
🦍❀️
Love for gorillas or Harambe; sometimes indicates conservation support.
Used in wildlife conservation contexts or as a memorial reference to Harambe.

Culture

The 2016 Harambe incident, where a gorilla was shot after a child fell into his enclosure, created a watershed moment in internet culture that permanently changed this emoji's connotations.

The gorilla has become a symbol of collective strength against perceived elites, particularly in financial contexts where retail investors call themselves 'apes'.

This emoji frequently appears in cryptocurrency and stock trading discussions, where 'ape' terminology has become standard language for certain investment behaviors.

The phrase 'apes together strong' from Planet of the Apes has become a linguistic meme closely associated with this emoji, representing collective action.

United Kingdom More commonly used in wildlife conservation contexts, though meme usage has crossed over from American internet culture.
United States Heavily associated with the Harambe meme and 'ape' terminology in stock market communities, particularly around GameStop.
Gen_X: Less frequent usage, primarily in literal contexts about wildlife or zoos. Some adoption of financial meme usage from younger generations.
Gen_Z: Primarily used for Harambe memes, TikTok trends, and ironic humor. Often used to comment on masculinity or gym culture.
Older: Rarely used except in literal contexts about gorillas or zoo visits. Generally unfamiliar with meme connotations.
Millennials: Commonly used in stock market contexts, particularly GameStop-related investing. Also used in fitness posts and wildlife conservation discussions.

History

2016

Harambe incident at Cincinnati Zoo transformed the gorilla emoji into a meme symbol and internet martyr.

The shooting of Harambe the gorilla sparked widespread internet mourning and memes.

2021

GameStop stock surge popularized 'ape' terminology among retail investors, boosting gorilla emoji usage.

Reddit's r/wallstreetbets community adopted gorilla imagery to represent collective investor strength.

2021

Gorilla adoption charities reported significant donation increases from Reddit investors identifying as 'apes'.

Stock market communities channeled meme energy into real-world conservation efforts.