The Brief: Over 1.3 million people have RSVP'd to a Facebook event to "storm Area 51" to "see them aliens" on September 20, inspiring a range of reactions from celebrities and even the U.S. military.

DEEP DIVE
Over 1.3 million people have RSVP’d to a Facebook event titled “Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us.” This widely-memed supposed event has received attention from celebrities, mainstream media outlets, and the United States Airforce.
U.S. Air Force Response
As the Facebook event gains more traction, the U.S. Air Force responded. A spokeswoman from the Air Force told the Washington Post that it is “ready to protect America and its assets”.
Even after many people have clarified that this event is a joke, the spokeswoman said that “[Area 51] is an open training range for the US Air Force, and we would discourage anyone from trying to come into the area where we train American armed forces.”
Is This For Real?
Although this event started as a mere joke, hotels near Area 51 have reportedly been receiving a significant uptick in reservations for September 20th. Although a group of over 1 million Kyles actually “Naruto running” into a high-security military facility seems far-fetched (and extremely ill-advised), the hype around the supposed Area 51 raid has yet to die down. However, as The Daily Show host Trevor Noah joked “a million people aren’t going to storm Area 51. A million people responded on Facebook, which means seven people are going to storm Area 51.”
The Celeb Internet Response
It comes as no surprise that several celebrities have jumped on the Area 51 meme bandwagon, hashtagging their tweets and posts with #Area51 or #Area51Raid. In other cases, fans are speaking out on behalf of their fave celebs.
Keanu Reeves stans are hoping for an appearance from John Wick, himself. One person went as far as altering an older Snap from Keanu Reeves’ Snapchat to include “Area 51” in the text.
If Keanu’s in, I’m in #Area51 pic.twitter.com/JerApHdTdF
— Ethan Will (@Ethan_Tolentino) July 14, 2019
Guys, you don't need to convince half the internet to storm #Area51 , you only need to convince Keanu Reeves
— Retardis (@TheTobbit) July 15, 2019
Keanu shows up at Area51: Keanu Leads. #Area51 #KeanuReeves
— Christian Vargas (@havumetcriz) July 13, 2019
Chuck Norris received the faux-Snap treatment, too:
Lol, Chuck Norris and Keanu Reeves go to #Area51 pic.twitter.com/fEGNXNMA93
— Wolf gang (@__Wolf_Gang_) July 16, 2019
I’m a bad influence even to the aliens #Area51 pic.twitter.com/ipltR95xQr
— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) July 16, 2019
Danny Trejo:
After leaving #Area51 pic.twitter.com/TMuDVCjyUs
— Danny Trejo (@officialDannyT) July 15, 2019
TODAY!! 🐎🐎🐎🐍 pic.twitter.com/a3kZYgNxNv
— nope (@LilNasX) July 16, 2019
Could this mean an intergalactic “Old Town Road” remix?
The Area 51 aliens prepping for a feature on the 87th Old Town Road remix dropping sept 20th @LilNasX #Area51 #Area51memes pic.twitter.com/kwH2CV2d6r
— ⫷ Haku ⫸ (@HAKUZEROx) July 13, 2019
@LilNasX bout to grab this dude from #area51 for a old milky way remix pic.twitter.com/URqK1g5B2e
— Luke (@MyNamesLuk) July 15, 2019
it’s funny that @LilNasX is maybe the only celeb that’s encouraging us to raid area 51. and honestly i’m downnn🕺🏽👽#Area51 #iwantapetalien
— brook.ie💛 (@brookie98113618) July 16, 2019
On my way to Area 51 to warn my family about the human invasion… 👽 pic.twitter.com/L3X8FUZsKV
— Jeffree Star (@JeffreeStar) July 14, 2019
Viral yodeling sensation, Mason Ramsey:
This alien facetimed me at 6am and told me to come get him out of Area 51. What should I do? pic.twitter.com/tQmb7b2mUz
— Mason Ramsey (@masonramsey) July 16, 2019
Kevin Jonas:
#HappinessBeginsTour at the post-raid rave #Area51 pic.twitter.com/QuhLQEfH2w
— kevin jonas (@kevinjonas) July 15, 2019
TikTok #Area51
TikTokers are on top of their game when it comes to Area 51 memes. The hashtag #area51 has received over 245 million views on the app.
“They Can’t Stop All Of Us”
Some people have pointed out how this momentum for collective action could be used for purposes other than “seeing them aliens”…
Instead of Area 51 do you guys wanna raid the ICE concentration camps
— Jai Paul Stan (@scamIikeIy) July 13, 2019
almost half a million people have pledged to raid area 51… why can’t we put that same effort into cleaning our oceans??? https://t.co/TRN0hn92qs
— Bo Bo (@bo_baker3) July 14, 2019
Area 51 Memes
ok this is the best one yet #Area51 pic.twitter.com/SYOsK49J7j
— ⎊ sᴛᴇᴘʜ ➐ ѕaw ғғн (@fuckn_marvel) July 15, 2019
Me training for September 20th #Area51 pic.twitter.com/ATp0KOQnPx
— Nyla ☀️🇻🇮 (@issa_nylaaa) July 16, 2019
Some conspiracy theory posts about Area 51 including a Lisa Simpson presenting meme:
This Let Me In meme shows the sacrifices some students are willing to make for a glimpse of aliens:
the friends of my new alien chilling at my house with my dad #Area51 pic.twitter.com/wd6hX7Dnj2
— #Area51 Memes 👽 (@AreaMemes51) July 15, 2019
This Spider-Man meme:
my alien trying to act normal in the car on the way back of #Area51 pic.twitter.com/gFrdJtHvqP
— #Area51 Memes 👽 (@AreaMemes51) July 15, 2019
People making plans for their exit strategy:
#Area51 Snapchat storys on September 20th be like : pic.twitter.com/kwZRHaIHvr
— #Area51 Memes 👽 (@AreaMemes51) July 15, 2019
Me and my new pals when I bust them outta Area 51 👽👽👽#Area51 pic.twitter.com/cFJrq7ILHr
— trafficlightsandwich (@LightSandwich) July 15, 2019