The phrase it is what it is has long been used in everyday speech to accept a situation that cannot be changed, and it became a popular reaction clip as short-form video and meme editing grew. Without a single famous scene to trace it to, its strength comes from how instantly recognisable the attitude is: calm, unbothered, and final. Creators reuse it because it needs no explanation, fits fails, losses, and everyday disappointments, and gives a video a clean, relatable ending that viewers understand in seconds.