Always Has Been

2020image macroclassic

Also known as: AHB · ALWAYS HAS BEEN · Always Has Been Meme · Always Has Been

Always Has Been is a 2020 image-macro meme featuring two astronauts in space, one pointing a gun at the other to reveal something has always been true despite misconceptions.

Always Has Been is a meme featuring an astronaut pointing a gun at another astronaut, used to suggest that something has always been true despite popular misconceptions. The format conveys revelation or confirmation of hidden truths.

Overview

The Always Has Been meme features two astronauts in space, with one apparently pointing a gun at the other or confronting them. The image became iconic for expressing the realization that something has always been true or always been the way we assumed. The space setting adds absurdist humor to the format. The meme works by pairing the image with text revealing that something was always true, often playing on common misconceptions or recent 'discoveries' that have always been the reality. The format is particularly effective for expressing surprise at historical truths.

The image comes from a real NASA photograph taken during a space mission. Internet users recognized the composition's potential as a meme template and began using it around 2020. The image's authenticity, it's a real NASA photograph rather than created content, gives it a sense of validity and humor. The meme emerged during 2020 when many internet users were experiencing way shifts and revelations about society, making the format's expression of 'things were always this way' particularly timely and relatable.

Origin & Background

Platform
NASA
Creator
NASA photograph
Date
2020

The image comes from a real NASA mission showing two astronauts in space. The image was repurposed as a meme format around 2020 to express the idea that something was always true or has always been the way we thought.

How It Spread

Always Has Been gained popularity in 2020 as a reaction image format for expressing that something has always been a certain way despite recent revelations or contrary beliefs. The image's composition, one astronaut apparently confronting another, creates the perfect visual for 'Wait, it was always like this?'

The meme spread rapidly across Reddit, Twitter, and other platforms during 2020-2021, becoming a standard format for expressing surprise at discovering something was always true. The format is still popular for expressing 'plot twists' about reality.

Platforms

RedditTwitterTumblrImgurInstagramTikTok

Timeline

2020

NASA image repurposed as meme format on Reddit

2020-2021

Meme gains rapid popularity as reaction image

2021-01-01

Always Has Been started spreading across social media platforms

2022+

Continues as evergreen format with consistent usage

2023-01-01

Brands and companies started using Always Has Been in marketing

2025-01-01

Always Has Been is still actively used and shared across platforms

View on Google Trends

How to Use This Meme

Use the Always Has Been image to express that something has always been true or been the way we assumed, often revealing misconceptions or common misunderstandings. Works best for historical facts, obvious truths, or recent revelations about existing realities.

1

Find the Always Has Been template on Imgflip or a similar meme generator

2

Think of a funny or relatable caption that fits the format

3

Add your text to the template using the meme generator

4

Share your creation on social media or in group chats

Create Your Own

Cultural Impact

Always Has Been became an effective format for expressing revelations about reality and challenging misconceptions. The meme demonstrated how space imagery could be repurposed for internet humor and provided language for discussing historical truths that were previously overlooked. The format keeps its popularity in educational contexts, discussions about common misconceptions, and for humorous 'plot twist' moments. The meme shows how NASA photographs can become online culture artifacts.

Fun Facts

The meme comes from a real NASA photograph, not a created or fictional image

The astronaut aiming a gun at another turned into iconic for expressing confrontation or revelation

The space setting gives the meme an absurdist quality that enhances its humor

The format became particularly popular in 2020 during a year of societal revelations and way shifts

Always Has Been inspired numerous variations playing on the theme of hidden truths

The Always Has Been meme has been shared millions of times across social media

You can create your own Always Has Been meme using free tools like Imgflip

Always Has Been first appeared in 2020

The meme is still remixed and adapted by creators

Brands and marketers have used Always Has Been in their campaigns

The meme is still remixed and adapted by creators

Derivatives & Variations

Variations using different images to express the same concept of hidden truths

A variation of Always Has Been

(2020)

Memes building on the 'wait, it was always?' reaction format

A variation of Always Has Been

(2020)

Space-themed memes inspired by the original image's NASA origins

A variation of Always Has Been

(2020)

Frequently Asked Questions