25-year-old New Zealand lawmaker Chlöe Swarbrick responded to a heckling colleague during her speech about the threats of climate change with the internet meme "OK, boomer," reports the Washington Post.
Why it matters: Millennials and Generation Zers have coined the phrase "OK, boomer" as a retort against older generations' patronization. The phrase first found viral fame on social media — notably, TikTok — thanks to a generational divide on issues like student debt and climate change.
Swarbrick was arguing in support of legislation that would set New Zealand's carbon emissions target at zero by 2050.
In her speech, she noted she'll be 56 in 2050 — when the average age of New Zealand's current Parliament is 49.
What she's saying: Swarbrick has responded to criticism over her retort on Facebook.
"Today I have learnt that responding succinctly and in perfect jest to somebody heckling you about *your age* as you speak about the impact of climate change on *your generation* with the literal title of their generation makes some people very mad."
"So I guess millennials ruined humour. That, or we just need to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and abstain from avocados. That's the joke."
