The Fortnite App Store Removal meme, widely known by the hashtag #FreeFortnite, originated in August 2020 when Epic Games intentionally violated Apple's App Store policies to protest their 30% commission. Following the game's immediate ban, Epic released a high-production parody of Apple’s famous '1984' advertisement, framing Apple as the new 'Big Brother.' This sparked a massive wave of memes across social media, with players picking sides in the corporate legal battle. The template is frequently used to discuss corporate monopolies, digital storefront fees, or to satirize the dramatic nature of billionaire-led legal disputes disguised as social movements.