The Gothamist and DNAinfo shutdown meme stems from the abrupt November 2017 decision by billionaire Joe Ricketts to shutter his local news empires just days after staff voted to unionize. This event became a symbol of the friction between digital journalism, corporate ownership, and labor rights. The meme is typically used to satirize 'bosses' who would rather destroy a successful business than allow workers to organize. It resonates deeply within media circles and labor advocacy groups, often serving as a cautionary tale or a pointed critique of anti-union sentiment in the modern media economy.