100 guys vs. one gorilla – the internet’s dumbest debate is also its most viral
A viral debate discussing who would win in a fight between 100 men and a silverback gorilla, which originally started in 2020, has sensationally resurfaced.
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A viral debate discussing who would win in a fight between 100 men and a silverback gorilla, which originally started in 2020, has sensationally resurfaced.
In fact, it’s almost as if the internet is brawling itself, with memes galore, mock simulations, celebrity weigh-ins, and questionable battle tactics.
The question first emerged on Reddit's r/whowouldwin Subreddit in 2020 and provoked a myriad of creative responses.
Now, five years later, X user Michael Sherrills posted a brazen take on the matter, which has since snatched almost 300 million views.
Sherrils, in this case, takes the side of humans – “everybody just gotta be dedicated to this shit” he opined.
i think 100 niggas could beat 1 gorilla everybody just gotta be dedicated to the shit😂😂
undefined 🏴☠️ (@DreamChasnMike) April 25, 2025
On Reddit, one poster mentioned that humans would have a strategic advantage and said:
“The 100 humans could just stand like 20 feet apart from each other and do nothing and the gorilla is collapsing from exhaustion before it kills everyone.”
NBC News even carried out a 4-minute investigative report on the dispute. The video rounds up the viral TikTok footage, before running a poll amongst their staff – 63% voted on the side of the gorilla – before asking an expert.
Dr. Tara Stoinsky, president and CEO of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, took the side of humans due to our critical thinking ability.
Meme mayhem
But the fun didn’t stop there. Popular bro influencer Mr Beast led the meme charge with a jocular call-to-action, asking for volunteers for the hypothetical battle.
Elon Musk then got in on the action, asking what was the worst that could happen.
Elon Musk volunteered to be in a ‘100 Men vs. 1 Gorilla’ video if MrBeast made one pic.twitter.com/Wmt0RVY6PT
undefined Dexerto (@Dexerto) April 29, 2025
Probably quite a lot, if you put your mind to it.
Armchair fans speculated about various lists of fighters and formations, with one X poster perceptively pointing out that 100 men would in fact dazzle a gorilla.
No reasonable person will underrate what 100 able men are capable of doing.
undefined Christian C.🌷 (@omorogiec) April 28, 2025
Here's what 100 men to a gorilla look like👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/29fNXUlAET
Is the joke wearing thin?
While these “what-if” animal fights are absurd enough to be safe while being viral, it can be seen as another example of brainrot.
And despite the sentiment that this is good old-fashioned harmless fun, maybe that’s part of the problem.
The popular charity group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) replied to Mr Beast on X, suggesting to “maybe try 100 reasons to leave animals out of your content instead,” opening up an ethical angle.
If the debate remains in the social media stratosphere, then it can foster a respectable discussion, provided it stays that way.
Here’s to hoping that a feral individual doesn't overstep the mark and actually put this spectacle into action.
