BBC Homepage
  • Skip to content
  • Accessibility Help
  • Your account
  • Notifications
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • More menu
More menu
Search BBC
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
Close menu
BBC News
Menu
  • Home
  • InDepth
  • Israel-Gaza war
  • War in Ukraine
  • Climate
  • UK
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Culture
More
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Health
  • Family & Education
  • In Pictures
  • Newsbeat
  • BBC Verify
  • Disability
  • BBC Trending

Did thousands of Americans vote for a dead gorilla?

  • Published
    9 November 2016
Share page
About sharing
Harambe for President badgeImage source, Twitter
By BBC Trending
What's popular and why

As the dust settles on the news that Donald Trump has beaten Hillary Clinton to win the US presidency, BBC Trending takes a look at some of the more quirky social media trends that emerged with the election results.

The Harambe mandate

Many social media users reacted with disbelief to tweets that were flying around suggesting that more than 10,000 people had voted - not for Trump or Clinton - but for a dead gorilla. What?

Yes, Harambe the 17-year-old Western lowland silverback gorilla who was shot and killed earlier this year after a child fell into his enclosure at Cincinnati Zoo, is said to have received thousands of 'write-in votes', an American electoral anomaly whereby you can actually vote for someone not on the ballot paper.

Whether or not those reports are actually true, and whether or not the votes could really have impacted on the results of the election, plenty of people felt pretty angry.

Tweet from @csydelkoImage source, Twitter
Tweet from @stugotjokesImage source, Twitter
Tweet from @David_LeavittImage source, Twitter

When life imitates art

There were thousands of tweets from non-Trump supporters comparing the unfolding events of election night to the worst ever episode of Charlie Brooker's dark and doom-laden TV series, Black Mirror, external.

Tweet from @maxjosephImage source, Twitter
Tweet from @robfeeImage source, Twitter

This was the TV show's response.

Tweet from @blackmirrorImage source, Twitter

Meanwhile, others asked if the election result was in fact just a prank from Ashton Kutcher, external's hidden camera MTV series, Punk'd, external.

ashton kutcher really outdid hisself with this year long episode of punk'd for the electionImage source, Twitter

Making an impression

Another actor whose name was trending on election night was Alec Baldwin, external. The comedian, who made an unfulfilled promise to leave the US if George W. Bush was elected back in 2000, has lately been winning widespread acclaim for his Donald Trump impersonation on Saturday Night Live, external. The president elect has been less than pleased with his portrayal and some wondered what the future had in store for Baldwin.

Tweet from @tunaoftheskyImage source, Twitter

Some Twitter users, most of them apparently Trump supporters, have been asking Mr Baldwin about a potential move to another North American country.

"Have you packed your bags for Canada yet? @AlecBaldwin" tweeted @DieselCane22, external.

While others have been congratulating him on the four years of guaranteed work he's now got in the bag doing his Trump skit on the Emmy Award-winning comedy show.

Tweet from @flynn985Image source, Twitter

Employment opportunity?

Social media users have been finding it hard to reconcile that Billy Bush lost his job during the 2016 campaign, while the man making the lewd comments in those now infamous tapes has become President.

The US TV and radio host (and close relation of two former US Presidents) was axed from his position at NBC earlier this year after the Washington Post revealed, external a 2005 video in which he appeared alongside Donald Trump who was bragging about trying to have sex with a married woman.

Tweet from @MattGrippiImage source, Twitter
Tweet from @RichLowryImage source, Twitter

Might the President-elect create a top job for Mr Bush in his first administration? Twitter has plenty of ideas, like this one.

Tweet from @WriteinTrumpImage source, Twitter

Escape bid

And one American man posted this hopeful message on the BBC World Service Facebook post, external about the election result.

Facebook message from Joel WassnerImage source, Facebook

For anyone wondering why Mr Wassner is hoping to move in January - that is when the President-elect is to be inaugurated and will officially take over from Barack Obama, becoming the 45th president of the United States.

Mr Wassner's post has had a few responses.

"OK come to Afghanistan!" wrote Shah Alam Alimi on Facebook.

While Jo Kershaw put some conditions on her offer: "If you can do DIY, my sister and I will put in a joint bid, Better hurry though, Britain will not be accepting immigrants much longer."

Kofi Ereky in Africa said "Come to Ghana, I have a nice sister for you."

Next story: US election 2016 result: 'He's not my president'

Donald TrumpImage source, Getty Images

Americans who are tweeting that Trump cannot represent them accused of throwing an anti-democratic tantrum. READ MORE.

You can follow BBC Trending on Twitter @BBCtrending, external, and find us on Facebook, external. All our stories are at bbc.com/trending.

Top stories

  • Live. 

    US justice department asks court to release certain Epstein files as Trump sues Murdoch

    • 10281 viewing10k viewing
  • Boy, 10, dead as nine in hospital after coach crash

    • Published
      4 hours ago
  • Amber warning as thunderstorms set to bring flash floods

    • Published
      3 hours ago

More to explore

  • 'There were bodies everywhere': Druze residents describe 'bloodbath' in Syrian city Suweida

    A health worker and other men walk in a hospital courtyard, past the bodies of victims of the recent clashes in Syria's southern city of Suweida on 17 July 2025
  • Why 2025 is a scarily good year for horror movies

    A still from I Know What You Did Last Summer shows actress Madelyn Cline with her hands clasped to her face, mid-scream. She's inside a house at night with large bay windows behind her.
  • How history-chasing Italy can threaten England at Euro 2025

    • Attribution
      Sport
    Italy celebrate after reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2025 with victory over Norway
  • Kill Russian soldiers, win points: Is Ukraine's new drone scheme gamifying war?

    A Ukrainian soldier wears a headset to pilot a drone
  • Israel levelling thousands of Gaza civilian buildings in controlled demolitions

    A promotional image for a BBC Verify story with branding. A soldier with his head turned away from the camera can be seen in the middle. On either side of him are images of destroyed buildings.
  • Relentless immigration raids are changing California's way of life

    Two protesters in dust masks film federal troops in gas masks in a field of crops in Southern California. One protester flies a Mexican flag
  • Weekly quiz: Why is Kew Garden's Palm House closing?

    Interior view of the Palm House at Kew.
  • How bad is Afghan data breach for MI6 and SAS?

    Two poppy wreaths lie in front of a stone memorial that has Afghanistan written on it.
  • Summer Essential: Your family’s guide to the summer, delivered to your inbox every Tuesday

    concentric circles ranging from orange to yellow to represent the sun, with a blue sky background
loading elsewhere stories

Most read

  1. 1

    Amber warning as thunderstorms set to bring flash floods

  2. 2

    Airport accused 'didn't know' he hit female PCs

  3. 3

    Boy, 10, dead as nine in hospital after coach crash

  4. 4

    Dog who helped police Queen's funeral dies after car crash

  5. 5

    More than 30 poisoned after suspected fake Botox

  6. 6

    Three killed in explosion at Los Angeles police training facility

  7. 7

    Man dies after car crashes onto railway tracks

  8. 8

    UK's asylum hotel bill down 30%, government says

  9. 9

    Royal swan count sees numbers resurface after dip

  10. 10

    Mum jailed for using children to smuggle cocaine

BBC News Services

  • On your mobile
  • On smart speakers
  • Get news alerts
  • Contact BBC News

Best of the BBC

  • Martin Scarsden faces a new mystery

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Scrublands S2
  • Sinister events in an old Spanish town

    • Attribution
      Sounds
    Uncanny: Summer Specials
  • Ghosts US returns for series 4

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Ghosts US S4
  • What does it take to build the perfect athlete?

    • Attribution
      Sounds
    The Infinite Monkey Cage
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • Terms of Use
  • About the BBC
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility Help
  • Parental Guidance
  • Contact the BBC
  • Make an editorial complaint
  • BBC emails for you

Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.