The #SaveNelly meme went viral in September 2016 following reports that rapper Nelly owed the IRS approximately $2.4 million in unpaid taxes. Fans quickly calculated that it would take roughly 287 million streams of his hit single 'Hot in Herre' on platforms like Spotify to generate enough revenue to clear the debt. This led to a massive social media campaign where users posted screenshots of themselves streaming his music on loop, accompanied by the hashtag #SaveNelly. The meme represents a humorous intersection of celebrity financial struggles, fan loyalty, and the ongoing debate over low streaming royalties for artists.