0 is the neutral element for addition. This is why when we have a number then 0 + number = number (0 doesnt change the value in addition) and why 0 x number = 0 (if you add a number 0 times you will have 0). (Multiplication is adding one of the numbers to itself the number of times designated by the second number)
The same way 1 is the neutral element for multiplication. This is why when you have some number then 1 * number = number. This is also why number^0 = 1 (if you never multiply by a number you are left with the neutral element. It would be weird if powering by 0 left you with 0 for example because of how negative powers work)
This is the level 1 answer.
The level 0 answer is that it is this way because all of mathematics is a construct designed to ease problem solving and all people collectively agreed that doing it this way is way more useful (because it is)
I wouldnt say it was exactly like that. I was there when it was written. It was heavily pushed by a certain annoying subreddit after the initial cheating allegations because it was a funny story and shitstorming it was the funniest thing ever. Only then it has reached main chess subreddit, though that some grandmasters, through them other grandmasters and through them it reached the media. Just somewhere along the line someone missed that it was supposed to be a joke