Long before it became one of the internet's favorite jokes about recruiters and human resources, a smiling screenshot of actress Anne Hathaway was simply an ordinary celebrity Zoom appearance.

Over the following years, however, the image evolved into a reaction meme synonymous with awkward corporate meetings, ghosted job applications and dreaded calls from HR.

Known as the "HRjak" or "Anne Hathaway HR" meme, the format ranges from simple reaction images to an elaborate Soyjak character that pokes fun at hiring managers and the modern job application process.

Recently, in early August 2026, Anne Hathaway even acknowledged the meme herself, calling it one of her favorites.

So, where did the image come from exactly, and how did it become such an enduring internet joke? Let's explain.

Where Does The 'Anne Hathaway HR' Meme Come From?

The original image comes from an appearance by actress Anne Hathaway on an episode of the reality TV show RuPaul's Drag Race that aired in February 2021.

During a virtual call with contestants, Hathaway smiled directly into the camera, creating the screenshot that would later become the basis for countless memes.

The image first went viral not long after the episode aired, with one of the earliest memes, captioning it, "POV: Your company's HR director is about to fire you on a Zoom call," appearing just a day later.

The combination of Hathaway's peculiar smile and the imagined bad news resonated with many users, turning the screenshot into a recurring reaction image throughout the early 2020s and beyond.

The more elaborate "HRjak" version of the meme emerged in early 2025, when users transformed the image into a Soyjak-style character covered in satirical badges and slogans mocking human resources departments, job interviews and hiring practices.

How Is The 'HRjak' And 'Anne Hathaway HR' Meme Used?

The meme is typically used to joke about frustrating or nerve-racking experiences with recruiters and human resources, especially being ghosted after interviews, waiting indefinitely for hiring decisions or sitting through unnecessary rounds of interviews.

The HRjak variant exaggerates these stereotypes by depicting an HR representative proudly displaying awards for wasting applicants' time and ignoring emails.

After the Soyjak version went viral in early 2025, the format spread widely across X / Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other platforms, prompting broader discussions about whether HR professionals deserved their negative online reputation or whether hiring decisions ultimately rested with company executives instead.

What Did Anne Hathaway Say About The Meme?

The meme received renewed attention in August 2026 when Anne Hathaway was asked about her favorite memes during an interview with Esquire for its "Inquiring Minds" series.

While chatting with actor Ewan McGregor, Hathaway revealed that she loved the HR meme, explaining that the screenshot was taken during a stressful Zoom appearance in which she was having a panic attack, adding that the expression looked exactly like someone from HR smiling while delivering the news that an employee had just been fired.

There's another one which is just so accurate. It was during the pandemic. I was doing this Zoom, and I had a panic attack, and I just flushed from here to here, and I started sweating, and my hair got really matted to my head, and I just smiled, and somebody made me like the forever face of HR. Telling you that you're about to be fired cause the smile goes nowhere near my eyes. Those are the two that I know about.

The "cupcake meme" that Hathaway mentioned during the segment is not as well known as the HR meme, but you can view it below.

What Are Some More Examples Of 'Anne Hathaway HR' Memes?

The 'Anne Hathaway Zoom Call' Meme Template

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For the full history of the Anne Hathaway HR meme, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for even more information.