
Hollywood star Pedro Pascal is trending again. But this time, it's not for being everyone's favourite daddy or the breakout star of Materialists. No, this time he's gone viral for something a lot more touchy.
It started with a red-carpet clip from the Fantastic Four: First Steps promo, where Pedro is seen gently holding co-star Vanessa Kirby's hand and resting a hand on her shoulder.
Fans thought it was warm, sweet, even protective.
But then came this Instagram post:
With over 60 million views and 100,000 likes, it blew up overnight and social media platform X turned it into a meme about Pedro's supposed social anxiety... but only around beautiful women.
Here's a taste:
One Internet user said, "This is a specific type of anxiety where he needs to touch a beautiful woman."
This is a specific type of anxiety where he needs to touch a beautiful women pic.twitter.com/p5Etw9ZK33
— 𝙈𝙧𝙕𝙚𝙙💫 (@spinitbackzed) July 23, 2025
Another post read, "Pedro Pascal calming his 'anxiety'."
Pedro Pascal calming his “anxiety” pic.twitter.com/IKx9btVDtq
— kira 👾 (@kirawontmiss) July 24, 2025
Someone else mentioned, "POV: You're a woman and Pedro Pascal has a little anxiety near you."
POV: You're a woman and Pedro Pascal has a little anxiety near you pic.twitter.com/P0JfvkbVCa
— EggHead671 (@egghead671) July 23, 2025
"Notices Pedro never has 'anxiety' around his female co-stars, just the hot ones."
Notices that Pedro Pascal never has "anxiety" around his mid female co-stars just the good looking ones pic.twitter.com/KgOY4F6xkp
— Charles (@Charl3sZ) July 23, 2025
The memes have been relentless, and the commentary is split. Some find it hilarious. Others? Just another case of social media projecting awkward gender dynamics onto someone who was, until now, the Internet's universally adored crush.
A Reminder: Pedro Pascal Didn't Just Go Viral Overnight
His Internet Sweetheart status didn't appear out of nowhere.
Pedro charmed the world with his grounded off-screen persona, meme-worthy interviews, emotional depth in The Last of Us, and that gentle, self-deprecating charisma. His Materialists performance just sealed the deal.
But now? The Internet's favourite soft boy is getting meme'd into a creep.
Plot Twist: Vanessa Kirby Has Entered The Chat
In case anyone was confused, Vanessa Kirby addressed the moment in an interview, "He does have anxiety, and he's been open about it... but the way he holds your hand or anchors you? That's him being protective, not anxious."
As women who've loved Pedro for being kind, emotionally available, and not like the others, this meme wave stings a little. Is it just internet over-analysis? Or is there something real we're starting to notice?
We're still keeping our fingers crossed hoping that maybe, maybe this is just a weird moment, a misunderstood clip, and that Pedro Pascal is still the adorable, emotionally literate man we've all been collectively crushing on.
ALSO READ | Why Materialists Star Pedro Pascal Has Been The Internet's Sweetheart Lately