In the fast-paced world of social media, few phenomena reach virality with the speed and impact of a good meme. In 2025, Kevin James, best known for his role as Doug Heffernan in the iconic sitcom The King of Queens , became the center of a new online frenzy thanks to the “I’m Going to Be a Dad” meme. This phenomenon, which began with a promotional image of James in an awkward, smiling pose, has been massively adopted on platforms like X, where users have used it to express everything from paternity announcements to comedic everyday situations. But the most recent surprise came when Bella Ramsey, the star of The Last of Us , created an Instagram collage combining images of James from the sitcom with her own interpretation of Ellie, unleashing a wave of laughter and comments. James, far from ignoring the trend, reacted with humor and enthusiasm, cementing his status as a beloved figure in pop culture.

The “I’m Going to Be a Dad” meme originated from a photo taken in 1998 promoting the first season of The King of Queens . In the image, James is wearing a green shirt, smiling sheepishly with his shoulders hunched, a pose described by X users as “perfectly awkward.” According to an analysis by Know Your Meme, the image resurfaced in 2024 on X, where one user captioned it “I’m Going to Be a Dad,” generating 12.3 million views in one week. The meme has since been adapted into countless contexts, from real-life pregnancy announcements to parodies of everyday situations like “I’m Going to Be a Dad… to a Puppy.” The versatility of the image, combined with James’ genuine expression, has made it a perfect canvas for online creativity.

Twenty-one-year-old Bella Ramsey added an unexpected twist to the phenomenon by posting a collage on Instagram on May 15, 2025. In it, she combined screenshots of James as Doug Heffernan with images of herself as Ellie from The Last of Us , creating a humorous parallel between James’ character’s clumsiness and Ellie’s intensity. The collage, titled “When Doug and Ellie meet in the multiverse,” racked up 2.7 million likes in 48 hours, according to a report by Pop Base . Ramsey, known for her sense of humor and connection with fans online, accompanied the post with the comment, “Kevin James is my secret inspiration for Ellie. That ‘I don’t know what I’m doing but here I am’ vibe.” The post not only fueled a frenzy for the meme, but also sparked speculation about a possible fictional crossover between the two universes.

Kevin James, 60, reacted to the Ramsey meme and collage during an interview on The Tonight Show on May 20, 2025. With his trademark self-deprecating humor, James joked, “I didn’t know my ‘I’m going to be a dad’ face was going to be more famous than me. And now Bella Ramsey makes me Ellie! I think I need a new agent.” He added that he loved the Ramsey collage and was “honored” to be part of meme culture, though he confessed to not fully understanding how social media works. “My daughter explains X to me, but I still think it’s Twitter,” he said, drawing laughter from the audience. His response, according to Variety, has been applauded by fans, who value his ability to laugh at himself and embrace virality.

The meme’s impact goes beyond humor. For Ramsey, participating in the trend is a way to connect with her audience after a challenging year. The actress has faced online criticism for her non-binary identity and role in The Last of Us , leading her to temporarily deactivate her accounts in April 2025, according to Moviejones. Her The King of Queens collage was a nod to her resilience, showing that she can laugh while facing scrutiny. For her part, James has seen a resurgence of interest in her work. The sitcom, which aired from 1998 to 2007, has gained new viewers on streaming, with a 23% increase in viewing on Paramount+ since the meme went viral, according to Deadline.

The connection between James and Ramsey has also inspired fans to create additional content, from TikTok montages to fan art imagining Doug Heffernan in the post-apocalyptic world of The Last of Us . On X, one user commented, “Kevin James as a survivor with Bella Ramsey would be the comedy we need.” Meanwhile, Ramsey has expressed a desire to meet James in person, suggesting a potential collaboration on a comedy sketch. For now, the “I’m going to be a dad” meme and Ramsey’s collage have united two generations of actors in a moment of pure fun, proving that humor can be a bridge in the digital age.