Always Has Been
Two astronauts in space — one discovers a shocking truth about Earth, the other replies 'Always has been' while aiming a gun.
An exploitable two-panel meme: Astronaut A realizes the planet is entirely made of something unexpected ('Wait, it's all X?'). Astronaut B, already holding a gun, confirms the secret was always known ('Always has been'). Used for ironic reveals, inside jokes, and bait-and-switch punchlines — the Ohio version ('Wait, it's all Ohio?') became the most famous variant.
History
Know Your Meme traces the earliest version to December 11, 2016, when Redditor Wiegand6 posted an MS Paint drawing to r/dankmemes showing astronauts discovering a flat Earth; the armed astronaut said 'Sry fam.' In August 2018, a 4chan post used the 'Wait, it's all America?' / 'Always has been' phrasing. The Ohio punchline spread via iFunny user iOhioian in October 2019. A photorealistic astronaut template went viral on Reddit in June 2020 during lockdown meme culture.
Cultural scores
Editorial estimates of cultural weight — Current Popularity tracks how much people are posting about this now, not historical fame.
Current Popularity = how actively people are posting about this today. Influence = lasting footprint. Cringe = online reception. Brainrot = absurdist energy. Scores last reviewed 2026-07-25. How scoring works
Timeline
Dec 2016
Earliest MS Paint astronaut meme on r/dankmemes (flat Earth version)
Aug 2018
4chan post introduces 'Wait, it's all America?' / 'Always has been'
Oct 2019
Ohio variant spreads on iFunny — ties into 'Ohio vs. the World' jokes
Jun 2020
High-res astronaut template explodes on Reddit and Twitter
2020–2022
Becomes a default exploitable format across platforms
Examples
- “Wait, it's all Ohio? Always has been.”
- “Wait, it's all capitalism? Always has been. [gun]”
- “Discovering your favorite show was cancelled years ago — Always has been”
Media
Related entries
Culturally linked — not random recommendations.
Ohio Final Boss
MemeGen Alpha absurdist lore: the climactic 'final boss' of Only-in-Ohio surrealism — often tied to Satoyu0704's phonk/suit persona and Ohio chaos edits.
Expanding Brain
MemeThe multi-panel 'galaxy brain' template ranking ideas from basic to absurdly enlightened as the brain lights up.
This Is Fine
MemeKC Green's 2013 comic dog calmly sipping coffee in a burning room — the internet's favorite denial emoji.
TikTok's Rise
EventHow TikTok (after the Musical.ly merger) became the default engine for global memes, music, slang, and short-form fame — and remade how internet culture spreads.
Change My Mind
MemeThe folding-table sign meme — a man with coffee inviting debate under the caption 'Change My Mind.'
Boston Dynamics Robot
MemeVideos of Boston Dynamics robots dancing, backflipping, or marching — memed as either adorable tech or the first signs of the robot uprising.
References
Sources behind this entry. Prefer primary reporting and established culture archives over rumor.