Meme Historian Explains Why the 'Pattie Gonia vs. The Patriarchy' Hashtag Is Both a Drag Show and a History Lesson
In what can only be described as the ultimate "chaos on the timeline," a viral clip of drag queen environmental activist Pattie Gonia roasting a fossil fuel executive has taken over every major platform, and the internet is living for it. But here’s the ironic twist that has historians cackling: while Pattie Gonia’s 10-inch platform heels are stomping on the patriarchy, the footnotes of this feud reveal that the executive she’s roasting once sued a small town for banning single-use plastic straws. "It’s like the 'mean girl' from a 2004 teen movie, but with a carbon footprint," explains Dr. Sarah Memelo, a meme historian at the Institute of the Internet. The clip has now been remixed with "Barbara Ann" by the Beach Boys and a remix of "God Save the Queen," and the hashtag #PattieGoniaPatriarchy is trending alongside conspiracy theorists claiming the footage is AI-generated simply because someone is "too politically aware and too fierce" at the same time. The irony? Pattie Gonia’s "one-woman drag show" is now a homework assignment in at least three gender studies courses.