You’ve seen it. Two astronauts are floating in the black void of space, staring down at Earth. But something is wrong. The continents aren't where they should be. Instead, the entire landmass is just the shape of Ohio. One astronaut, realizing the terrifying truth, gasps, "Wait, it's all Ohio?" The other, standing right behind him with a pistol leveled at his head, coldly replies: "Always has been."
It’s absurd. It’s a bit dark. Honestly, it’s one of those internet relics that should have stayed buried in 2018, yet it somehow keeps surfacing every time a minor news event happens in the Midwest.
The its all ohio meme isn't just about geography or a specific US state. It’s a template for a specific kind of existential dread wrapped in a joke. It captures that "matrix glitch" feeling where you realize a fundamental truth about the world is actually a lie, and the powers that be are ready to silence you for noticing.
Where Did This Even Come From?
Most people think this started on TikTok or Reddit recently, but the roots go back way further to the weird, experimental corners of Tumblr. Around late 2016, an MS Paint-style drawing appeared. It was crude. It featured the two astronauts and the "Always has been" punchline.
💡 You might also like: Where to Watch Chained Soldier Without Getting Lost in Shady Links
Back then, the joke wasn't even about Ohio. The original version featured the "flat earth" theory or just a giant picture of the moon. It was niche. It was a "if you know, you know" kind of thing.
Then 2018 hit. A Reddit user named u/Snoo_74339 posted a version on the r/me_irl subreddit where the world was replaced by Ohio. Why Ohio? Probably because of the long-standing internet gag that Ohio is a liminal space—a vast, inescapable void of cornfields and suburban sprawl that somehow secretly controls the American psyche.
The image became a visual shorthand for "the conspiracy is deeper than you think." It wasn't long before the MS Paint drawing was replaced by a high-fidelity 3D render. That’s the version most of us recognize today—the one with the detailed spacesuits and the realistic Earth (well, realistic Ohio).
The Evolution of the Astronauts
The funny thing about the its all ohio meme is how it transitioned from a static image to a versatile video format. By 2020, people were adding dramatic music. You’ve likely heard the song "Kingdom of Predators" from the Hunter x Hunter soundtrack playing in the background of these clips. It adds this layer of operatic tragedy to a joke about a state famous for LeBron James and buckeyes.
It’s a masterclass in "Shitposting."
One day it’s about Ohio. The next day, the astronaut is looking at the world and realizes it’s all just 1990s Taco Bell interiors. "Wait, it's all a Baja Blast?" "Always has been."
Why Ohio Became the Internet’s Punchline
To understand the meme, you have to understand the internet’s weird obsession with "The Ohio State." For years, Ohio has been the target of "Only in Ohio" jokes. It’s portrayed as a wasteland of monsters, glitchy physics, and bizarre sightings.
Think about it.
If you wanted to pick a place that represents the "default" or "basic" setting of reality, Ohio is a strong candidate. It’s not as flashy as New York or as chaotic as Florida. It’s just... there. So, the idea that this unassuming, beige-colored state is actually the entire world strikes a chord. It’s the ultimate "The Truman Show" moment.
There’s also a bit of a psychological element here. The meme plays on the "overwhelmingness" of information. We live in an era of deepfakes and misinformation. When you find out a "fact" you’ve known your whole life is wrong, that split second of shock is exactly what the meme captures.
💡 You might also like: Flexing and Finessing Bladee: Why This Cold Visions Track Is Actually a Cry for Help
Variations That Broke the Internet
While Ohio is the flagship, the template has been used to mock almost every fandom and subculture:
- Gaming: An astronaut looks at the world and sees it's actually just a Skyrim map. Todd Howard is the one holding the gun.
- Corporate: The world is just one giant Amazon warehouse. Jeff Bezos is behind the pistol.
- Existential: The world is just a simulation.
What makes it work is the second astronaut. He’s the "enforcer." He represents the status quo. He isn't surprised that the world is Ohio; he’s known it the whole time. His job is to make sure you don't tell anyone else.
The Technical Side: Why It Ranks and Stays Relevant
From a content perspective, the its all ohio meme is a goldmine because it’s highly "remixable." Memes that stay stuck in one format usually die within weeks. But because this is a "Wait, it's all [X]?" template, it can be applied to any trending news story.
When a company gets bought out? Someone makes the meme. When a new scientific discovery is made? Someone makes the meme.
It also helps that the visual is so iconic. You don't even need the text anymore. You just need two astronauts and a gun, and the human brain fills in the rest of the dialogue. That is the hallmark of a "tier one" meme—it has transcended the need for language.
Common Misconceptions About the Origin
A lot of people think the meme was a paid marketing stunt by the Ohio Tourism Board.
It wasn't.
Though, to be fair, they missed a massive opportunity. Ohio’s official social media accounts eventually started leaning into the joke, but they were years late to the party. By the time brands start using a meme, it’s usually "dead" in the eyes of the internet. But somehow, the astronauts survived. They’ve become "zombie memes"—content that refuses to stay dead and actually becomes funnier because of its age.
Another common mistake is thinking the "pistol in space" is a mistake. Yes, we know guns don't work the same way in a vacuum. Yes, we know the recoil would send the astronaut spinning backward into the void. But that’s the point. The absurdity of a standard handgun in orbit just adds to the "shitpost" energy.
How to Use the Meme Today
If you’re a creator or just someone trying to be funny on Discord, don't just post the original Ohio version. That’s "normie" territory now. To make it work in 2026, you have to subvert the expectation.
Maybe the astronaut turns around and he is Ohio.
Maybe the gun is a banana.
Maybe the world is actually normal, and the astronaut is just hallucinating.
🔗 Read more: Searching for Not That Kind of Girl Lena Dunham PDF: Why This 2014 Bestseller Still Sparks Debates
The power of the its all ohio meme is in the reveal. You need a setup that feels serious and a punchline that is completely stupid.
Actionable Takeaways for Meme Lovers
If you want to track the next evolution of this format or use it effectively, keep these things in mind:
- Vary the platform: This meme performs differently on X (formerly Twitter) than it does on TikTok. On X, it’s usually a political or corporate jab. On TikTok, it’s usually a high-effort animation with 3D models.
- Watch the music: The "Always has been" punchline is almost always timed to a beat drop or a specific orchestral swell. If you’re making a video, the audio is 50% of the joke.
- Check the "Ohio" lore: Before posting, see what the current "Only in Ohio" trend is. If there's a specific monster or building being memed, incorporate that into the Earth's texture for extra layers of irony.
- Keep it short: The punchline should happen within the first 5 seconds. The tension of the "Wait..." needs to be resolved immediately by the "Always has been."
The world might not actually be Ohio, but in the realm of internet culture, Ohio is everywhere. It’s the state that became a planet, and the planet that became a joke. As long as people feel like the world is a little bit "off," those two astronauts will be floating up there, waiting for the next person to notice the truth.
Always have been.