100 men vs one gorrilla: Wild debate over who would win the fight lights up the internet

Within the past few years, there’ve been a string of viral social media posts about how strong gorillas are, and memes that have arisen out of them.

Now, a recent post on X wondering if 100 people could beat a gorilla has finally got everyone to contemplate what would happen.

X user @DreamChasnMike posted his thoughts on Friday (April 25), kicking off a barrage of comical responses.

"I think 100 n***as could beat 1 gorilla everybody just gotta be dedicated to the shit," he wrote.

The jokes came flying, centring around the idea that silverback gorillas, which are four to nine times stronger than the average person, and have a grip strong enough to crush a crocodile, would have no problem defeating any number of people who might line up against them.

Such has been the frenzy around this trend that "Gorilla" has been trending across multiple social media platforms, such as TikTok and X. 

Thousands of posts are being made where users are pitching in on who they think will win in a hypothetical battle, with many, expectedly, siding with the gorilla.

The trend combines absurdity and humour, making it ripe for viral content. While the exact origin of the trend is debated, it reportedly first surfaced back in December 2022. 

The Baltimore Ravens had beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers, and CBS News reported the day after, on December 8, that the debate of who would win in a battle of 100 humans and a silverback gorilla had taken over the Ravens locker room.

However, the trend was limited to the Ravens locker room, and that too for a limited time. Now, it is all over social media, suddenly. That too, for no apparent reason.

Many users on ‘X’ suggested that strength in numbers would be able to overtake a 100-200 kgs gorilla with 100 ‘dedicated’ bodies.

Others tend to agree it would be a suicide mission, considering the Silverback gorilla’s raw strength, its ability to lift ten times their body weight and a bite force of 1,300 PSI (pounds per square inch) among more incredible feats.

Some people, however, are convinced that 100 men are a good enough number to pulverise a full-grown gorilla, arguing that, faced with such an incredible amount of humans with sheer force and skill, the gorilla simply cannot stand a chance.

The debate has become such a resounding hit online, it has dominated the internet for the last 24 hours with thousands of memes, hilarious conjectures and propositions flying across all corners of the web.

Back in 2022, when the debate first surfaced, Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey argued: "I said, it depends on what kind of guys you've got. Then, I started to think that even with the guys you have, I don't know how you take down a gorilla. Do you choke it out?"

Sharing her thoughts too, X user Lebohang Mosia said, "LMAO I don’t mean to have discourse this early but this “100 men vs. a silverback gorilla' debate going around right now really highlights the hubris at the heart of toxic masculinity."

She added, "I think it’s less about strength or strategy and more about the fear that admitting defeat, even to something vastly stronger, would somehow threaten their sense of masculinity. Because Lord knows a silverback Gorilla would rock a 100 men."

Another X user had this to say, "Yall severely underestimate the capabilities of 100 grown men. Some are for sure going to die, but gorillas are built for short bursts of energy, not for long drawn out fights. Humans have much better endurance than most animals."

On his part user @Stallweat said, "Gorillas are the most overhyped fake demons of the animal kingdom. They’re herbivores, they literally do not know how to fight. They are not gonna throw a punch at you, 100 men in 1/2 decent shape would drop that thing!"

Offended that this fantasy fight was only meant to involve men, a disgruntled female commentator said, "Uhm why isn’t anyone including women in the count of 100 people taking down this gorilla? We’re very capable!"

Social media influencer Lippy also chimed in, saying, "Do you think 100 10-year-olds could beat you up?  As a grown man? Impossible, literally impossible. And bear in mind that a 10-year-old's strength is closer a grown man’s than a grown man’s is to a gorilla's."

Her argument was quickly tackled by many, with someone interjecting, "Bro it ain’t about strength, it’s about swarm physics. 100 10-year-olds moving mad ain’t a fair scrap, it’s chaos theory. You drop ONCE, it’s curtains. You’re getting swarmed, trampled, and humbled. Simple maths. Respect the numbers."

Perhaps the most sensible thought to come out of the wild discourse came from a user named Thomas Owishemwe, who said, "Ugandans are silent about the whole Gorilla vs. 100 people discourse because we’re home to more than 50% of the world’s mountain gorillas and we know who would win that fight."

Gorillas have significantly more muscle mass than humans, leading to their immense strength; they can easily lift and manipulate objects that would be impossible for humans to move.

A gorilla's upper body can support over 1,800 pounds in pulling force, far exceeding the capabilities of even well-trained humans.

This incredible strength plays a crucial role in their social structure, with silverback males, the dominant males, using their power to protect their groups.