'Roaring Kitty' Ignites Meme Stock Mania As Volatile Shares Climb And Plummet In Premarket

Keith Gill, also known as the "Roaring Kitty" on YouTube and "DeepF***ingValue" on Reddit, is a financial analyst turned social media influencer who gained a massive following among retail investors. He is widely credited with sparking the meme stock frenzy in 2021, particularly with his bullish bets on GameStop. Gill's social media posts and YouTube streams, where he discussed his investments and analyzed stocks, attracted a large audience and influenced trading activity, leading to significant price movements in GameStop and other meme stocks.

Gill's background includes working as a director of education and wellness at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance subsidiary MML Investors Services LLC. He began posting about his bullish bets on GameStop stock on his DeepF***ingValue Reddit account back in 2019. Gill continued posting his GameStop positions and updates until April 2021, after which he took a hiatus from social media. He recently re-emerged in 2024, with his posts and livestreams causing a resurgence in interest and trading activity in meme stocks.

Gill has faced criticism for his role in the meme stock frenzy, with some accusing him of causing significant losses for investors who followed his lead. However, he has defended himself, stating that his content was for educational purposes only and that he believed GameStop was undervalued at the time.

Keith Gill, also known as "Roaring Kitty," has had a significant impact on the market movements of meme stocks like GameStop and AMC Entertainment. Gill gained popularity among retail traders on social media and has a cult-like following that helped fuel the original meme stock rally in 2021. His posts and online activity, which often involve discussing market movements and revealing positions he holds, have been credited with influencing the surge in prices of these stocks.

Gill's return to social media after a years-long hiatus reignited interest in many stocks popular during the original mania, leading to significant fluctuations in their prices. His influence is such that even trading platforms like Robinhood, which played a role in allowing the meme stock craze to take off, have become something of a meme stock themselves.

Gill's posts and online presence have drawn criticism for fueling investor mania for meme stocks. However, he has defended himself in testimony before Congress, stating that his content was for educational purposes only. Despite this, his recent return to social media and posts on Reddit revealing a nearly $116 million position in GameStop have sparked further frenzies in the market.