Pedro Pascal has been ruling the internet for quite some time, having captivated audiences of all age groups with his effortless charm, masculine grace, and vulnerability. From starring in rugged roles to romantic ones, Pascal clinched the title of the internet's boyfriend for the past few years. The Chilean-American actor's ability to balance wit with humility and authentic warmth made him everyone's 'zaddy', owing to his viral sandwich-eating stills, coffee order, or emotional breakdowns; however, suddenly, his affable persona slipped.

What went wrong with social media's darling? Why is Pascal's image falling apart?

Social media platforms have blown up over the past few weeks with memes portraying a nervous Pedro Pascal as too clingy or creepy, accompanied by posts that allege his "social anxiety" as a means to grope his female co-workers. This started with a Hall H clip from the Fantastic Four: First Steps promotions, where Pascal gently leans on co-star Vanessa Kirby, who stars as Marvel's new Invisible Woman. The duo frequently held hands and hugged during the film’s press tour, and one of the clips gained over 60 million views on Instagram. What fans initially saw as support for Pascal's social anxiety has now sparked memes accusing him of inappropriate touching.

With Kirby stroking Pascal's face on the press tour, and several other accumulated moments of similar incidents, such as Pascal's touching interaction with Sarah Paulson at the press night of Evita, the internet is now ridiculing him. Social media commentators are often employing the Dexter, or James Doakes, reaction meme ('But you can't prove it') to imply there is something secretively weird about Pascal. At the heart of this digital backlash lies the question of the actor's rising fame, crumbling into unsettling conclusions.

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But who is the true Pedro Pascal beyond the headlines? He definitely did not just go viral overnight.

From taking on a kingpin to saving the world from intergalactic forces, Pedro Pascal has built a career so luxurious that many other actors could only envy. Having started his career in the late 90s, Pascal has now banked credits in iconic series such as Game of Thrones, The Last of Us, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Narcos, and The Mandalorian, among several others. While the internet gave him his flowers by crowning him as their favorite took some time, the toxic meme culture is already set to undo it all for Pascal. However, his recent appearance alongside Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans as the wealthy love interest in Materialists, which is likely to be streaming online soon, effectively enchanted several viewers. 

Underneath the online speculation is a seasoned actor, preparing for blockbuster sci-fi films and offering genuine moments of vulnerability, unkempt, and unfiltered. With a long list of even more high-profile cinema waiting to be unleashed, Pedro Pascal remains booked and busy for the rest of the year: Eddington releasing July 18, Fantastic Four: The First Steps arriving on July 24, followed by Avengers: Doomsday 2026. 

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