5 Reasons Why The "That's Why He's The GOAT" Meme Still Dominates The Internet In 2025
The "That's Why He's The GOAT" meme remains one of the most recognizable and universally deployed reaction clips on the internet, transcending its 2018 origins to become a permanent fixture in digital communication, even as of December 19, 2025. This explosive, high-energy declaration of "Greatest Of All Time" status is the ultimate shorthand for celebrating peak performance, whether it's a clutch play in a video game or a legendary moment in pop culture. It is a pure, unfiltered expression of admiration that cuts through the noise of the digital age.
The meme's enduring popularity lies in its versatility and the sheer, unbridled enthusiasm of the man in the original video. It captures a moment of such intense, relatable excitement that it can be applied to virtually any scenario where someone has achieved something truly exceptional. From sports highlights to a friend's clever text message, the phrase instantly elevates the subject to legendary status, ensuring its relevance years after its initial viral explosion.
The Viral Origin Story: Who is the Man Yelling "That's Why He's The GOAT"?
The meme’s foundation is a short, explosive video clip featuring a Black man excitedly yelling the now-iconic phrase. The original clip is often cited as being uploaded to YouTube in December 2018 by a user named T M. The video quickly gained traction, primarily due to the speaker's intense passion and the immediate, quotable nature of the line: "That's what I'm talking about, that's why he's the MVP, that's why he's the GOAT, the GOAT!".
Biography of the Meme’s Speaker (Known Facts)
While the full, formal identity of the man in the video has remained largely unconfirmed, which is common for viral meme subjects, several key details and pseudonyms have circulated across the internet:
- Original Uploader: T M (YouTube Channel)
- Upload Date: December 4, 2018
- Known Aliases/Associated Names: The man in the GIF version of the meme is sometimes identified with the username Bigfellerjake. Another less-confirmed reference on Reddit points to a TikTok user known as Shade from TikTok.
- Core Phrase: "That's why he's the MVP, that's why he's the GOAT, the GOAT!!"
- Meme Categories: Reaction Video, Sound Effect, Animated GIF, Green Screen Footage.
The ambiguity surrounding the speaker’s name has not hampered the meme’s spread; instead, it has allowed the focus to remain entirely on the raw emotion of the moment, making the clip a universal symbol of hype and ultimate praise.
The Deep History of GOAT: From Boxing Legend to Internet Acronym
The power of the meme is intrinsically linked to the term it celebrates: GOAT, an acronym for Greatest Of All Time. This phrase has a rich cultural history that predates the internet by decades, giving the meme a sense of gravitas and topical authority.
Muhammad Ali and the GOAT Foundation
The modern usage of the GOAT acronym is directly tied to the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.
- The Corporate Origin: The term was formally popularized in 1992 when Ali's wife, Lonnie Ali, incorporated G.O.A.T. Inc. (Greatest Of All Time, Incorporated) to manage and license his intellectual properties.
- Sports Culture Integration: The acronym quickly spread through sports media, becoming the definitive way to describe figures like Michael Jordan in basketball, Tom Brady in American football, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in football (soccer), and Serena Williams in tennis.
- Hip-Hop Influence: The term was further cemented in pop culture through the hip-hop community, with artists frequently referencing the status in their lyrics, ensuring its adoption by a younger, digitally native audience.
By the time the viral video dropped in 2018, the acronym was already a cultural icon. The meme simply provided the perfect, enthusiastic audio-visual accompaniment for declaring someone the GOAT in a casual, internet-friendly way.
The Meme’s Enduring Relevance: 5 GOAT-Worthy Moments of 2025
The "That's Why He's The GOAT" sound effect and GIF continue to be remixed and used across platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Reddit threads in late 2024 and early 2025, proving its staying power. Its primary function is to serve as a celebratory reaction video, often paired with a green screen or overlaid on gameplay and sports highlights.
The meme’s consistent use in the gaming community is particularly strong, often appearing in clips related to esports, clutch moments, or a streamer's unexpected success. Here are five types of recent, GOAT-worthy moments where the meme is guaranteed to appear:
- The Unbelievable Gaming Clutch: When a streamer, such as a popular Twitch personality or YouTube Gamer, pulls off an impossible, last-second victory in a title like Valorant, Apex Legends, or Fortnite. The meme is used to cap off the highlight reel.
- Record-Breaking Sports Achievements: Any time a major athlete, such as Patrick Mahomes (NFL), Nikola Jokic (NBA), or a new UFC champion, sets a new historical benchmark or wins a major trophy, the clip is deployed by fans on X (Twitter) and Instagram to cement their legendary status.
- Viral TikTok Trends and Life Hacks: The meme is frequently repurposed to celebrate a clever "life hack" or an unexpected, positive outcome in a comedic short. For example, a video showing a complicated task being solved with a simple trick will end with the GOAT audio track.
- Major Entertainment Releases: When a highly anticipated video game (Grand Theft Auto VI), movie, or TV show delivers an unexpected, mind-blowing twist or a perfect sequence, fans use the meme to praise the writers, developers, or directors for their masterful execution.
- The Unexpected Hero Moment: In any online community, from r/memes to specialized forums like r/LeagueOfMemes, when a user posts a comment or performs an action that perfectly solves a problem or delivers a comedic punchline, they are instantly crowned the GOAT, often with the GIF attached.
The Legacy: A Cultural Shorthand for Excellence
The "That's Why He's The GOAT" meme is more than just a fleeting viral moment; it is a cultural touchstone. It perfectly blends the historical weight of the Greatest Of All Time acronym with the raw, high-octane energy of internet reaction culture.
Its success lies in its simplicity. You don't need context or a long explanation. The moment the man yells, "That's why he's the GOAT!", the message is clear: the subject has achieved perfection. As long as there are exceptional moments in gaming, sports, music, and pop culture, this meme—and its powerful, enthusiastic sound—will continue to be the internet’s definitive way to celebrate excellence into 2025 and beyond.
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