The 'What is going on' meme originates from the 2013 biographical black comedy film 'The Wolf of Wall Street.' In this specific scene, the character Donnie Azoff, played by Jonah Hill, is heavily intoxicated and observing the sheer chaos unfolding during a wild office party at Stratton Oakmont. Leaning back in his chair while wearing signature 90s glasses and a yellow polo, he repeatedly asks 'What is going on?' with a mixture of bewilderment and drug-induced confusion. This clip gained massive traction online through the 'Gif With Sound' YouTube series, which paired iconic silent GIFs with their original audio for comedic effect. In internet culture, the meme is the gold standard for expressing utter confusion, sensory overload, or being overwhelmed by a situation that makes no sense. It is frequently used when entering a chaotic group chat, witnessing a bizarre news story, or trying to understand complex instructions. Example captions include: 'Me walking into the kitchen at 3 AM to see my roommates fighting over a sandwich' and 'When you open the exam and the first question is in a different language.'