The Ellen Pao meme stems from the turbulent tenure of Pao as the interim CEO of Reddit in 2015. Following the banning of several controversial subreddits and the firing of a popular staff member, the Reddit community reacted with a massive 'blackout' and a surge of satirical memes. Pao's likeness became a symbol for perceived corporate overreach and censorship on the platform. While the intensity of the controversy has faded over time, the template remains a staple for internet users discussing moderation policies, digital free speech, or historical moments in social media evolution.