The Pro-Hong Kong Mei meme emerged in October 2019 as a form of digital activism following Blizzard Entertainment's decision to ban professional Hearthstone player Blitzchung for supporting the Hong Kong protests. In a strategic move to make Overwatch characters toxic to Chinese censors, internet users reimagined Mei—a Chinese climatologist in the game—as a symbol of resistance, often depicting her in gas masks and yellow hard hats. This transformation aimed to force Blizzard into a difficult position regarding its relationship with the Chinese market while highlighting issues of corporate censorship and human rights. The meme remains a significant example of how gaming communities use intellectual property to engage in global political discourse.