It Was Me Dio

1987Bait-and-switch / image macro / catchphrasesemi-active

Also known as: Kono Dio Da! · But It Was Me Dio

It Was Me Dio is a bait-and-switch meme from the 2012 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure anime, featuring antagonist Dio Brando's smug reveal with the iconic catchphrase "Kono Dio Da.

"It Was Me, Dio!" (Japanese: "Kono Dio Da!") is a memorable quote and bait-and-switch meme from the manga and anime series *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure*. The line originates from a scene where antagonist Dio Brando gloats after stealing a kiss from Erina Pendleton, and it went viral after the 2012 anime adaptation aired. The meme follows the format of setting up an expected reveal only to replace it with Dio's smug face, making it one of the most enduring anime memes and a gateway into JoJo fandom.

jojos bizarre adventure memesbait and switch memescatchphrase memesanime manga

Overview

The meme centers on a single frame from the *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure* anime showing Dio Brando, a blonde, hyper-dramatic villain, pointing at himself with both thumbs while wearing a look of manic triumph5. The accompanying text follows a bait-and-switch formula: set up an expectation, then pull the rug out with "But it was me, Dio!" It functions like a Rickroll for the anime community. You click a video expecting a makeup tutorial, a romance scene, or a clip from a different anime, and at the climax, the music cuts out and there's Dio6.

What makes the image so effective is the character design. Dio's eyes aren't just angry; they're unhinged. His inward-pointing thumbs communicate extreme narcissism in a single frame5. Even without knowing the source material, the image reads instantly as arrogant villainy.

The quote first appeared in chapters three and four of *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood*, the first story arc of Hirohiko Araki's manga series, published in 19873. In the scene, Dio Brando forces a kiss on Erina Pendleton, Jonathan Joestar's love interest, purely to torment his rival. After the kiss, Dio gloats: "Your first wasn't JoJo! It was me, Dio!"2 The original Japanese line is "Kono Dio Da!" which translates roughly to "It was me! It was Dio!"5

The scene sat dormant for over two decades. It wasn't until David Production animated it for the pilot episode of the 2012 anime adaptation, which premiered on October 5th, 2012, that the line took on a life of its own1. Voice actor Takehito Koyasu's over-the-top delivery transformed a manga panel into something far more potent. Koyasu is a legend in the Japanese voice acting world, and his raspy, rhythmic punch on the line made it infinitely remixable6.

The very next day after the broadcast, the earliest known English-language discussion about the kissing scene appeared on 4chan's /a/ (anime and manga) board3.

Origin & Background

Platform
Hirohiko Araki's *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure* manga (source material), 4chan's /a/ board (meme spread)
Creator
Hirohiko Araki
Date
1987 (manga), 2012 (meme)

The quote first appeared in chapters three and four of *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood*, the first story arc of Hirohiko Araki's manga series, published in 1987. In the scene, Dio Brando forces a kiss on Erina Pendleton, Jonathan Joestar's love interest, purely to torment his rival. After the kiss, Dio gloats: "Your first wasn't JoJo! It was me, Dio!" The original Japanese line is "Kono Dio Da!" which translates roughly to "It was me! It was Dio!"

The scene sat dormant for over two decades. It wasn't until David Production animated it for the pilot episode of the 2012 anime adaptation, which premiered on October 5th, 2012, that the line took on a life of its own. Voice actor Takehito Koyasu's over-the-top delivery transformed a manga panel into something far more potent. Koyasu is a legend in the Japanese voice acting world, and his raspy, rhythmic punch on the line made it infinitely remixable.

The very next day after the broadcast, the earliest known English-language discussion about the kissing scene appeared on 4chan's /a/ (anime and manga) board.

How It Spread

The initial 4chan poster noted the quote's similarity to the "Too bad, it was just me!" line from the Glasses Sayaka image macro series. On October 14th, 2012, someone created a Glasses Sayaka-style image macro using the Dio screenshot on 4chan's /a/ board.

On January 24th, 2013, a new thread appeared on 4chan's /a/ board featuring the screenshot and quote, pulling in more than 55 replies before being archived. While Western audiences saw early activity in 2012-2013, the meme's real explosion came as more viewers discovered the anime through streaming platforms in 2014.

On April 28th, 2014, Tumblr user homealonethree posted "reblog if it was you, Dio," which accumulated over 4,100 notes within a month. Days later on May 2nd, Twitter user InazumaBuster posted a photo of the *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle* fighting game with Dio Brando's image substituted for the instruction manual. That post picked up over 870 retweets and 660 favorites in its first two weeks.

By 2015, Google Trends showed a massive spike in interest. Photoshop edits flooded Tumblr and Twitter, with users superimposing Dio's face onto characters from other franchises. The "Who's That Pokémon?" format was a popular target: you'd see Pikachu's silhouette, but the reveal was always Dio. The Mona Lisa, the girl from *The Ring*, world leaders, even inanimate objects all got the Dio treatment.

The meme peaked around 2015-2017 and then entered what internet culture calls "post-ironic" usage. Corporate Twitter accounts started picking it up, which is usually the death knell for memes. But because *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure* is already built on being over-the-top and ridiculous, the meme proved harder to kill than most.

Platforms

RedditTwitterTikTokInstagramYouTube

Timeline

1987-01-01

It Was Me Dio begins gaining traction

1988-01-01

It Was Me Dio started spreading across social media platforms

1989-06-01

It Was Me Dio reaches peak popularity

1990-01-01

Brands and companies started using It Was Me Dio in marketing

1992-01-01

It Was Me Dio entered the broader pop culture conversation

2025-01-01

It Was Me Dio is still actively used and shared across platforms

View on Google Trends

How to Use This Meme

The classic format follows a three-part structure:

1

The Setup: Present something that looks normal. A video, image, or text post that builds an expectation. Common setups include fake tutorials, romantic anime clips, or "Who's That Pokémon?" frames.

2

The Turn: At the moment of the expected payoff, cut to Dio's screenshot or the quote.

3

The Punchline: The reveal text reads some variation of "You thought it was [expected thing], but it was me, Dio!"

Create Your Own

Cultural Impact

Before the 2012 anime and the memes it spawned, *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure* was a niche property in North America despite being a massive franchise in Japan. The "Kono Dio Da" meme acted as free marketing, creating a "must-watch" curiosity that drove millions to streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and Netflix. The franchise went from cult classic to mainstream pillar of the anime world, leading to high-fashion collaborations with Gucci and exhibits in Tokyo.

The bait-and-switch format pioneered by the meme influenced broader content strategy. Brands from Duolingo to RyanAir adopted similar "interrupt the scroll" tactics on TikTok, using recognizable characters or sounds as punchlines.

The meme also sits at the center of the broader "Is That a JoJo Reference?" culture, where fans of the series jokingly identify JoJo connections in everyday life. "Kono Dio Da" became the entry point for that subculture.

Within the JoJo fandom itself, the meme carries a complicated reputation. Hardcore fans sometimes consider it "entry-level" and call it the "Live, Laugh, Love" of JoJo memes. Posting it unironically in a Discord server in the mid-2020s might get you labeled a "normie," which is only possible because the meme reached total saturation.

Fun Facts

Dio's name means "God" in Italian. Creator Hirohiko Araki chose it because he wanted a name that sounded cool next to "JoJo".

Araki said Dio was inspired by FBI profiling of serial killers and how they use psychological manipulation to control victims.

Voice actor Takehito Koyasu has said that playing Dio is physically exhausting due to the amount of grit he puts into the performance.

The meme scene happens in the very first episode of the anime. One common misconception is that it occurs later in the series, but Dio is at his most "human" at this point, before becoming a literal vampire.

The "Kono Dio Da" meme is distinct from the "To Be Continued" JoJo meme (the one with "Roundabout" by Yes). "To Be Continued" is about suspense; "It Was Me, Dio" is about the reveal.

Derivatives & Variations

JoJo Reference Memes

A variation of It Was Me Dio

(1987)

Similar Dramatic Reveals

A variation of It Was Me Dio

(1987)

Frequently Asked Questions

It Was Me Dio

1987Bait-and-switch / image macro / catchphrasesemi-active

Also known as: Kono Dio Da! · But It Was Me Dio

It Was Me Dio is a bait-and-switch meme from the 2012 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure anime, featuring antagonist Dio Brando's smug reveal with the iconic catchphrase "Kono Dio Da.

"It Was Me, Dio!" (Japanese: "Kono Dio Da!") is a memorable quote and bait-and-switch meme from the manga and anime series *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure*. The line originates from a scene where antagonist Dio Brando gloats after stealing a kiss from Erina Pendleton, and it went viral after the 2012 anime adaptation aired. The meme follows the format of setting up an expected reveal only to replace it with Dio's smug face, making it one of the most enduring anime memes and a gateway into JoJo fandom.

jojos bizarre adventure memes bait and switch memes catchphrase memes anime manga

Overview

The meme centers on a single frame from the *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure* anime showing Dio Brando, a blonde, hyper-dramatic villain, pointing at himself with both thumbs while wearing a look of manic triumph. The accompanying text follows a bait-and-switch formula: set up an expectation, then pull the rug out with "But it was me, Dio!" It functions like a Rickroll for the anime community. You click a video expecting a makeup tutorial, a romance scene, or a clip from a different anime, and at the climax, the music cuts out and there's Dio.

What makes the image so effective is the character design. Dio's eyes aren't just angry; they're unhinged. His inward-pointing thumbs communicate extreme narcissism in a single frame. Even without knowing the source material, the image reads instantly as arrogant villainy.

The quote first appeared in chapters three and four of *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood*, the first story arc of Hirohiko Araki's manga series, published in 1987. In the scene, Dio Brando forces a kiss on Erina Pendleton, Jonathan Joestar's love interest, purely to torment his rival. After the kiss, Dio gloats: "Your first wasn't JoJo! It was me, Dio!" The original Japanese line is "Kono Dio Da!" which translates roughly to "It was me! It was Dio!"

The scene sat dormant for over two decades. It wasn't until David Production animated it for the pilot episode of the 2012 anime adaptation, which premiered on October 5th, 2012, that the line took on a life of its own. Voice actor Takehito Koyasu's over-the-top delivery transformed a manga panel into something far more potent. Koyasu is a legend in the Japanese voice acting world, and his raspy, rhythmic punch on the line made it infinitely remixable.

The very next day after the broadcast, the earliest known English-language discussion about the kissing scene appeared on 4chan's /a/ (anime and manga) board.

Origin & Background

Platform
Hirohiko Araki's *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure* manga (source material), 4chan's /a/ board (meme spread)
Creator
Hirohiko Araki
Date
1987 (manga), 2012 (meme)

The quote first appeared in chapters three and four of *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood*, the first story arc of Hirohiko Araki's manga series, published in 1987. In the scene, Dio Brando forces a kiss on Erina Pendleton, Jonathan Joestar's love interest, purely to torment his rival. After the kiss, Dio gloats: "Your first wasn't JoJo! It was me, Dio!" The original Japanese line is "Kono Dio Da!" which translates roughly to "It was me! It was Dio!"

The scene sat dormant for over two decades. It wasn't until David Production animated it for the pilot episode of the 2012 anime adaptation, which premiered on October 5th, 2012, that the line took on a life of its own. Voice actor Takehito Koyasu's over-the-top delivery transformed a manga panel into something far more potent. Koyasu is a legend in the Japanese voice acting world, and his raspy, rhythmic punch on the line made it infinitely remixable.

The very next day after the broadcast, the earliest known English-language discussion about the kissing scene appeared on 4chan's /a/ (anime and manga) board.

How It Spread

The initial 4chan poster noted the quote's similarity to the "Too bad, it was just me!" line from the Glasses Sayaka image macro series. On October 14th, 2012, someone created a Glasses Sayaka-style image macro using the Dio screenshot on 4chan's /a/ board.

On January 24th, 2013, a new thread appeared on 4chan's /a/ board featuring the screenshot and quote, pulling in more than 55 replies before being archived. While Western audiences saw early activity in 2012-2013, the meme's real explosion came as more viewers discovered the anime through streaming platforms in 2014.

On April 28th, 2014, Tumblr user homealonethree posted "reblog if it was you, Dio," which accumulated over 4,100 notes within a month. Days later on May 2nd, Twitter user InazumaBuster posted a photo of the *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle* fighting game with Dio Brando's image substituted for the instruction manual. That post picked up over 870 retweets and 660 favorites in its first two weeks.

By 2015, Google Trends showed a massive spike in interest. Photoshop edits flooded Tumblr and Twitter, with users superimposing Dio's face onto characters from other franchises. The "Who's That Pokémon?" format was a popular target: you'd see Pikachu's silhouette, but the reveal was always Dio. The Mona Lisa, the girl from *The Ring*, world leaders, even inanimate objects all got the Dio treatment.

The meme peaked around 2015-2017 and then entered what internet culture calls "post-ironic" usage. Corporate Twitter accounts started picking it up, which is usually the death knell for memes. But because *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure* is already built on being over-the-top and ridiculous, the meme proved harder to kill than most.

Platforms

RedditTwitterTikTokInstagramYouTube

Timeline

1987-01-01

It Was Me Dio begins gaining traction

1988-01-01

It Was Me Dio started spreading across social media platforms

1989-06-01

It Was Me Dio reaches peak popularity

1990-01-01

Brands and companies started using It Was Me Dio in marketing

1992-01-01

It Was Me Dio entered the broader pop culture conversation

2025-01-01

It Was Me Dio is still actively used and shared across platforms

View on Google Trends

How to Use This Meme

The classic format follows a three-part structure:

1

The Setup: Present something that looks normal. A video, image, or text post that builds an expectation. Common setups include fake tutorials, romantic anime clips, or "Who's That Pokémon?" frames.

2

The Turn: At the moment of the expected payoff, cut to Dio's screenshot or the quote.

3

The Punchline: The reveal text reads some variation of "You thought it was [expected thing], but it was me, Dio!"

Create Your Own

Cultural Impact

Before the 2012 anime and the memes it spawned, *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure* was a niche property in North America despite being a massive franchise in Japan. The "Kono Dio Da" meme acted as free marketing, creating a "must-watch" curiosity that drove millions to streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and Netflix. The franchise went from cult classic to mainstream pillar of the anime world, leading to high-fashion collaborations with Gucci and exhibits in Tokyo.

The bait-and-switch format pioneered by the meme influenced broader content strategy. Brands from Duolingo to RyanAir adopted similar "interrupt the scroll" tactics on TikTok, using recognizable characters or sounds as punchlines.

The meme also sits at the center of the broader "Is That a JoJo Reference?" culture, where fans of the series jokingly identify JoJo connections in everyday life. "Kono Dio Da" became the entry point for that subculture.

Within the JoJo fandom itself, the meme carries a complicated reputation. Hardcore fans sometimes consider it "entry-level" and call it the "Live, Laugh, Love" of JoJo memes. Posting it unironically in a Discord server in the mid-2020s might get you labeled a "normie," which is only possible because the meme reached total saturation.

Fun Facts

Dio's name means "God" in Italian. Creator Hirohiko Araki chose it because he wanted a name that sounded cool next to "JoJo".

Araki said Dio was inspired by FBI profiling of serial killers and how they use psychological manipulation to control victims.

Voice actor Takehito Koyasu has said that playing Dio is physically exhausting due to the amount of grit he puts into the performance.

The meme scene happens in the very first episode of the anime. One common misconception is that it occurs later in the series, but Dio is at his most "human" at this point, before becoming a literal vampire.

The "Kono Dio Da" meme is distinct from the "To Be Continued" JoJo meme (the one with "Roundabout" by Yes). "To Be Continued" is about suspense; "It Was Me, Dio" is about the reveal.

Derivatives & Variations

JoJo Reference Memes

A variation of It Was Me Dio

(1987)

Similar Dramatic Reveals

A variation of It Was Me Dio

(1987)

Frequently Asked Questions