"I'm Gonna Be A Dad" is a meme originating from a scene in Season 2, Episode 4 of HBO's The Last of Us, where Ellie (played by Bella Ramsey) cheerfully responds to Dina's pregnancy announcement with the line "I'm gonna be a dad." Released on May 4, 2025, the scene immediately went viral across X, Reddit, TikTok, and Instagram, with fans mocking the delivery as tonally off from the darker source material[1]. The meme sparked both comedy and heated discourse about the show's adaptation choices, generating hundreds of thousands of edits, reaction posts, and debate threads within days[4].
Origin
On May 4, 2025, HBO aired the fourth episode of The Last of Us Season 2[4]. In the scene, Dina reveals her pregnancy to Ellie during a conversation at camp. Ellie processes the news, confirms Dina is no longer with Jesse (the baby's father, who is Asian), and responds with "I'm gonna be a dad"[4].
The reaction in the show contrasts sharply with the video game. In The Last of Us Part II, Ellie responds to the same revelation with shock and visible distress, reflecting her darker emotional state throughout the game[1]. Reddit user kh7190 described the gap: "She's overall happy and handling it pretty well, a far cry from the rage that carried her all the way north to seek revenge in the game. The vibe is all wrong"[1].
Showrunner Craig Mazin had hinted in pre-season interviews that Ellie and Dina's time together would get "unexpected," and had stressed that "authenticity trumps word-for-word recreation" when adapting the game[3].
- Platform: HBO (source scene), X / Twitter and Reddit (viral spread)
- Creator: HBO / Craig Mazin (show writers), @RaffaJoey (TikTok sound creator), @amittensblight (early viral X post)
- Date: 2025
Overview
The meme centers on a brief exchange in The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 4. Dina tells Ellie she's pregnant with Jesse's baby. Instead of the shocked, conflicted reaction from the original The Last of Us Part II video game, the show's Ellie takes the news in stride and declares, "I'm gonna be a dad"[4]. The line's upbeat delivery clashed with what many fans expected from a story defined by grief and rage, making it instantly memeable[1].
The format works as both a reaction image (screenshots of Ellie's face paired with the quote) and an audio meme (the clip used as a TikTok sound for comedic setups)[2]. Text-based versions use the quote as a punchline for unexpected or absurd situations.
How It Spread
The scene went viral within hours of the episode airing. On May 4, 2025, X user @amittensblight posted edits of game scenes featuring Ellie and Dina with an Asian baby (referencing Jesse), pulling over 11,000 likes in roughly three weeks[4].
By May 5, X user @JonnyRoot_ called the episode the "wokest episode of TV of all time," singling out the dad line. That same day, TikTok creator @RaffaJoey uploaded the clip as an "original sound," and it caught fire immediately[2]. The Instagram Reels account tlouvideogame reposted the clip, racking up over 350,000 likes by May 5[2].
On May 6, X user @DramaAlert posted an image macro of the scene with the caption "HBO's 'The Last of Us' is getting backlash for going full WOKE," pulling over 88,000 likes in two weeks[4]. The same day, Reddit user u/Persepolissss posted an edit of Ellie as Kratos from God of War to r/TheLastOfUs2, captioned "I'm gonna be a dad," earning over 2,200 upvotes[4].
On May 7, a detailed criticism post by u/kimotheapple titled "'I'm gonna be a dad' is even worse than you could possibly imagine" hit 3,200 upvotes on r/TheLastOfUs2[4]. X user @TheOfficerTatum also posted the scene with the complaint, "Is it too much to ask to leave this WOKE nonsense out of entertainment?"[4].
The meme's biggest single viral moment came on May 9 when Reddit user u/DarkSpartan267 posted a Kevin James Smirking edit with Ellie's face, titled "I'm gonna be a dad?" to r/TheLastOfUs2. It pulled 69,000 upvotes[4]. X user @BillyM2k reposted the Kevin James version on May 10, where it hit 290,000 likes[4]. By May 11, Instagram user dark___humor_ reposted it as an image macro for another 88,000 likes[4].
On May 12, X user @DrClownPhD posted a version depicting Ellie as Sloth from The Goonies, earning 9,500 likes[4].
How to Use
The "I'm Gonna Be A Dad" format typically works in a few ways:
Audio/video format (TikTok): Record a selfie or reaction clip, overlay the Ellie audio. The first three seconds of her deadpan delivery set up the joke, then a visual cut or text overlay delivers the punchline[2]. Common setups include unexpected news, ironic reveals, or situations where being called "dad" makes zero sense.
Image macro format: Screenshot Ellie's face from the scene with the quote as text. Often paired with a second panel showing a contrasting reaction or absurd context[4].
Text-only format: Drop "I'm gonna be a dad" as a non-sequitur response in group chats or comment threads when someone shares surprising or life-changing news.
Face-swap variant: Replace Ellie's face with another character (Kevin James, Kratos, Sloth from The Goonies) while keeping the quote[4]. This version leans into the absurdist angle.
Cultural Impact
The meme reignited a long-running debate about how closely TV adaptations should follow their source material. Multiple outlets covered the backlash, with StarTeFacts arguing that the show's writers "misjudged the tone, turning a potentially powerful scene into an unintended lightning rod for criticism"[1].
The controversy also highlighted the pressures young actors face in the age of social media, where performances get scrutinized and memed in real time[5]. Ramsey's threat of legal action against meme creators, while unlikely to succeed, drew attention to the question of where online humor crosses into harassment[5].
Corporate marketing accounts got in on the trend too, with brands poking fun at unexpected product launches using the audio clip[2].
Fun Facts
- The Kevin James face-swap version was reposted by @BillyM2k (Billy Markus, co-creator of Dogecoin), helping it reach 290,000 likes on X[4].
- Over 2,000 fan-made PNG templates were uploaded to Imgur and meme sites within weeks of the episode[2].
- Reddit's r/TheLastOfUs2 hosted a detailed post titled "'I'm gonna be a dad' is even worse than you could possibly imagine" that broke down frame-by-frame differences between the game and show versions[4].
- The TikTok sound format requires almost no editing skill, which helped it spread faster than most video memes. As one analysis noted: "No dance moves or elaborate editing: just record, overlay the sound, add captions, and post"[2].
- Fan discussions on Reddit included actual flowcharts mapping Ellie's emotional progression across both versions of the scene[3].
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "I'm Gonna Be A Dad"?
It's a meme based on a line delivered by Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 4 (May 4, 2025), where she cheerfully responds to Dina's pregnancy news by saying "I'm gonna be a dad"[4].
Where did "I'm Gonna Be A Dad" come from?
The line comes from HBO's The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 4, aired May 4, 2025. It went viral on X, Reddit, and TikTok within hours[4].
What does "I'm Gonna Be A Dad" mean?
In context, it's Ellie claiming a parental role for Dina's unborn child. As a meme, it's used as a punchline for unexpected situations or absurd announcements, playing on the dissonance of a female character declaring she'll "be a dad"[2].
How do you use "I'm Gonna Be A Dad"?
On TikTok, overlay the audio clip on a reaction video. As an image macro, pair the screenshot with absurd setups. Or just drop the quote as a non-sequitur in comment threads[2].
Is "I'm Gonna Be A Dad" still popular?
As of mid-2025, the meme is still actively being remixed across TikTok, X, and Reddit, with new variants appearing regularly and the broader Season 2 discourse keeping it in circulation[3].
Why was the line controversial?
In the original The Last of Us Part II game, Ellie reacts to Dina's pregnancy with shock and distress, reflecting her darker emotional state. The show's lighter, upbeat version felt jarring to many fans[1].
Did Bella Ramsey respond to the memes?
Yes. In a Variety interview on May 18, 2025, Ramsey called the memes "personal" and "infuriating," and urged their legal team to pursue action against those who profited from them[5].
Can Bella Ramsey actually sue over the memes?
Legal experts say it would be very difficult. Defamation or harassment claims require proof of malicious intent and tangible harm, and parody/satire receive broad free speech protections in the U.S.[5]
What was the most viral version of the meme?
The Kevin James face-swap edit by Reddit user u/DarkSpartan267, posted May 9, 2025. It reached 69,000 upvotes on r/TheLastOfUs2 and 290,000 likes when reposted on X[4].
Why did some people call the episode "woke"?
Critics framed the scene as forced progressivism, particularly the gendered aspect of a female/non-binary character calling themselves "dad." X users like @DramaAlert and @TheOfficerTatum posted viral complaints along these lines[4].
How did the TikTok version work?
TikTok creator @RaffaJoey uploaded the clip as an "original sound." Creators overlay it on reaction videos, using Ellie's deadpan delivery as a setup before a visual or text punchline[2].
What did showrunner Craig Mazin say?
Mazin hinted at standing by the creative choices, telling fans to "wait for the full story" and stressing that "authenticity trumps word-for-word recreation"[3].