Leeroy Jenkins creator releases never seen before cut to raise awareness about net neutrality

[steve2470]

https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/25/16817710/leeroy-jenkins-new-video-net-neutrality

Leeroy Jenkins has returned once more to ruin World of Warcraft raids, but this time for a good cause. The creators of the infamous meme released a never-before-seen dry run of the botched attack, this time with the hopes of raising awareness about net neutrality.

The original video was published on May 10, 2005, but has enjoyed enduring popularity and places in pop culture, from Jeopardy to The Daily Show. YouTube channel Anf Pal published a video dubbed “Leeroy Jenkins First Take/Dry Run,” in which the group runs through their plan just before Leeroy (aka Ben Schulz) starts his infamous charge. “I've been holding onto this for over a decade waiting for the ‘right’ moment to make it public,” the description on YouTube reads, “and then last week Ajit Pai created his awful/condescending video and it riled me up so much that I decided it was finally time to unleash this gem of Internet history on the world to do my part to help out.”

As it stands, net neutrality is dead. FCC chairman Ajit Pai led the vote to repeal the Open Internet Order on December 14. But the battle isn’t over just yet; some lawmakers are vocally supporting resolutions to undue the repeal, while pro-neutrality groups are preparing for a legal fight. The YouTuber adds that he will make a “sizeable donation” to the EFF and related organizations if the video generates ad revenue. “Hopefully some of you will find this interesting and/or amusing, and will take some time to research net neutrality and make a fuss about it,” he wrote.

For anyone who still believed the video was real, however, this cut confirms the run was staged (or at the very least, a dramatic reenactment). Sorry about the death of your favorite “real” meme, but net neutrality is at least a worthy cause.