The 'Diane in 7A' meme stems from a viral 2013 Twitter thread by 'The Bachelor' producer Elan Gale, who documented a supposed escalating conflict with a rude fellow passenger named Diane during a Thanksgiving flight. Gale shared photos of napkins and notes exchanged between the two, captivating millions with the real-time drama. However, the saga was eventually revealed to be a complete fabrication designed to entertain and experiment with social media storytelling. The meme is now used to symbolize elaborate internet hoaxes, the performative nature of social media, and the way users can be easily swept up in viral narratives regardless of their authenticity.