The “Wait, it’s all ___? Always has been” meme features two astronauts in space looking down at Earth. The first astronaut has a sudden realization (“Wait, it’s all Ohio?”), and the second astronaut appears behind them with a gun, calmly confirming: “Always has been.” The format is used to reveal that something you just noticed has actually been true all along – and someone has been keeping it that way.
How the meme works
Format: Two-panel image. Astronaut 1 looks at Earth and realizes something. Astronaut 2 (with a gun) confirms it was always that way.
The original
Astronaut 1: “Wait, it’s all Ohio?”
Astronaut 2 (with gun): “Always has been.”
Adaptations
"Wait, it's all ads?" / "Always has been."
"Wait, it's all cake?" / "Always has been."
"Wait, it's all a simulation?" / "Always has been."
Where it came from
The meme originated from a 2018 4chan post that edited a space photograph to show Ohio covering the entire Earth, paired with the astronaut dialogue. It circulated quietly until mid-2020 when it exploded on Twitter, Reddit, and Instagram.
The Ohio version went viral first because the idea of Ohio secretly being everything is inherently absurd. But the format quickly proved endlessly adaptable – any “hidden truth” revelation could be slotted in.
Why “always has been” hit so hard
- Conspiracy energy: The gun adds a sinister undertone, like someone has been guarding this secret. It turns silly observations into mock conspiracies.
- Perfect timing: It peaked during 2020, a year when “nothing is real” energy was already at an all-time high.
- Infinite adaptability: Literally any topic works. “Wait, it’s all marketing?” “Wait, it’s all reposts?” The template never runs out.
- The gun detail: The second astronaut having a weapon implies the truth is being actively suppressed. It is a tiny detail that makes the whole format work.
Classic variations
- “Wait, it’s all Ohio?” – The original. Ohio is everything. Accept it.
- “Wait, it’s all cake?” – Crossover with the 2020 “everything is cake” trend.
- “Wait, it’s all among us?” – Combined with Among Us during peak sus culture.
- “Wait, it’s all ads?” – Commentary on the internet being nothing but advertising.
- “Wait, it’s all content?” – Meta commentary about everything being turned into content.
How to make your own
- Pick something that feels like it is secretly everywhere or controls everything.
- The revelation should feel like a conspiracy discovery, even if it is about something mundane.
- The “always has been” reply needs to feel calm and knowing – the second astronaut is not surprised at all.
- Bonus points for observations that are actually kind of true when you think about it.