Ajit Pai memes mock the former FCC Chairman who led the December 2017 repeal of Obama-era net neutrality rules. The backlash produced viral clips of Pai dancing the Harlem Shake in a Santa hat and eating popcorn in front of a green screen, spreading across Reddit and Twitter through late 2017 and 2018.
Origin
On December 13th, 2017, conservative site The Daily Caller published a video of Ajit Pai reading a list titled '7 Things You Can Still Do on the Internet After Net Neutrality,' capped by Pai and other performers dancing the Harlem Shake in Santa hats[1]. The clip dropped one day before the FCC's December 14th vote to end the rules and drew immediate ridicule for its tone[3].
- Platform: The Daily Caller (source video) / Reddit and Twitter (viral spread)
- Creator: Unknown
- Date: 2017
Overview
Ajit Pai memes are mocking images and video edits targeting the former Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, who pushed through the December 2017 repeal of Obama-era net neutrality rules[3]. The backlash turned Pai into a lightning rod for meme-based political mockery on Twitter and Reddit through late 2017 and 2018[2].
Recurring elements include a green-screen clip of Pai eating popcorn and a Santa-hat Harlem Shake video published just before the FCC vote[1]. Remixers layered the popcorn footage with music, Droste effect loops, and captions blaming Pai for killing the open internet[4].
How It Spread
On December 17th, 2017, Redditor Markmeoffended posted a green-screen video of Pai eating popcorn to /r/MemeEconomy, where it pulled more than 34,900 points and 560 comments within 24 hours[4]. The same user replied to their own thread with a Droste effect edit that looped the clip inside itself[4].
Attacks picked up again in May 2018 after the U.S. Senate voted to overturn the FCC repeal. Twitter user @SkurpsSLP called May 16th 'Everybody give Ajit Pai the middle finger' Day, and photos of raised middle fingers spread with the tag[5]. On May 17th, The Daily Dot ran an article titled 'Internet mocks Ajit Pai after Senate net neutrality victory' covering the wave of online jokes[2].
How to Use
The typical Ajit Pai edit takes the green-screen popcorn clip[4] or the Daily Caller Harlem Shake video[1] and swaps in new backgrounds, subtitles, or music tied to a fresh grievance. Captions often frame Pai as smug about a policy decision that hurts ordinary internet users[2].
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ajit Pai?
Ajit Pai is the former FCC Chairman who became a meme after leading the December 2017 repeal of net neutrality[3].
Where did Ajit Pai come from?
The mockery kicked off with a December 13th, 2017 Daily Caller video showing Pai doing the Harlem Shake in a Santa hat[1].
What does Ajit Pai mean?
As a meme, his name and face signal internet anger at telecom-friendly policy and the loss of net neutrality[2].
How do you use Ajit Pai?
People remix the green-screen popcorn video or the Harlem Shake clip with new captions about internet regulation complaints[4].
Is Ajit Pai still popular?
The meme peaked around the December 2017 FCC vote and the May 2018 Senate response, and faded once net neutrality dropped from the news cycle[2].
