Pedro Pascal Describes Robert Downey Jr. as ‘Daddy Doomsday’ and the Internet Has Seemingly Had Enough

Pedro Pascal is at it again, referring to his Avengers: Doomsday co-star Robert Downey Jr. as “Daddy Doomsday” in a recent interview.

Known for his roles in blockbuster hits like The Mandalorian, The Last of Us, and the recently released Fantastic Four: First Steps, Pascal has become a staple of online discourse. However, one aspect of his public persona—the persistent obsessive “daddy” meme—has sparked significant debate.

Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame (2019), Marvel Studios

Speaking about the upcoming film and the chance to work opposite the founding father of the MCU, Pascal said of Downey: “He’s delicious. It’s loads of fun. He is ‘Daddy Doomsday’ to all of us.”

This “Daddy Doomsday” comment reignited conversations on Pascal and how he interacts with his co-stars. His recent history of uncomfortable touching with actresses like Bella Ramsay, Sarah Paulson, and Vanessa Kirby have drawn ire from exhausted movie goers the world over.

Pedro Pascal hugging co-star Bella Ramsay – X, @painfulships

Some view his near-constant embrace of the “daddy” term as playful, but a growing chorus finds it insistent, obsessive, and downright off-putting.

The Birth of “Internet Daddy”

The “daddy” moniker isn’t unique to Pascal; it’s a broader internet slang term often used affectionately (or thirstily) for charismatic, older male celebrities who exude a mix of protectiveness, charm, and sex appeal.

Pedro Pascal at Star Wars Celebration – YouTube, Star Wars

For Pascal, it gained traction around 2019 with his breakout role as Din Djarin in The Mandalorian, where he played a stoic, helmeted bounty hunter turned reluctant father figure to Baby Yoda (Grogu). Fans latched onto the paternal vibe and a meme was born.

By 2022, it had solidified. In a Vanity Fair video, Pascal famously declared, “Daddy is a state of mind,” while responding to fan edits and thirst tweets. He leaned into it further during promotions for The Last of Us in 2023, where he played Joel Miller, another grizzled dad protecting a young girl in a post-apocalyptic world.

Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie in The Last of Us (2023), HBO

Pascal explained in interviews that he believed the title stemmed from these fatherly roles rather than just his looks, saying it “seems a little role-related.”

The meme exploded on platforms like TikTok and X, with compilations titled “5 Reasons Why Pedro Pascal Is The Internet Daddy” racking up views on YouTube.

Pascal’s Insistent Embrace

What sets Pascal apart is how actively he’s engaged with the meme, turning it from fan-driven to actor-endorsed. In a 2023 Today Show appearance, he addressed it head-on, attributing it to his on-screen dads but playfully owning it. He’s read thirst tweets aloud, joking about being “your daddy,” and even incorporated it into skits, like on Saturday Night Live where he parodied the obsession.

Pedro Pascal on SNL – YouTube, Saturday Night Live

More recently, Pascal has extended the term beyond himself. In the July 2025 interview that sparked the latest uproar, he described facing off against Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom as “delicious” and “loads of fun,” before adding, “He’s ‘Daddy Doomsday’ to all of us.”

This isn’t isolated; reports suggest he’s used similar language for co-stars like Oscar Isaac, whom he’s affectionately teased in interviews. A 2023 article in Screen Speck noted how Pascal jokingly called himself “daddy” in fan contexts, blurring the line between humor and habit.

A screenshot of Pedro Pascal dancing suggestively with a rainbow colored rod suggestively at an event – X, @pascalarchive

This insistence has led critics to label it an “obsession,” with Vanity Fair recently pushing the narrative in a way that feels glorified and inescapable.

The Backlash: Why Many Find It Off-Putting

While the meme started as lighthearted fun, a vocal segment of the internet has grown weary, viewing Pascal’s repeated references as cringy, forced, and even creepy.

Gross, stop using the term daddy. You’re like 60

— Nate, or, Mr H Reviews (@MrHreviews) July 29, 2025

Following the “Daddy Doomsday” comment, X erupted with negative replies. 

Ok I take it all back this man gives off some creepy vibes

— Diego (@Dieggo) July 30, 2025

Recent backlash has intertwined with unrelated controversies, like accusations of being overly touchy with co-stars (stemming from his supposed “anxiety”), amplifying the perception of creepiness. 

This crap makes me want to never see a Marvel movie again.

— DolceDJ (@DolceDJ) July 30, 2025

The Pedro Pascal “daddy” meme has morphed into something many perceive as obsessive, especially as Pascal continues invoking it in interviews. For fans, it’s off-putting because it feels inauthentic, overplayed, and sometimes downright creepy.

Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby – YouTube, omeleteve

As Fantastic Four continues to trudge along at the box office (where it has already earned less than James Gunn’s Superman in an opening weekend comparison), the question remains: Will he dial it back, or lean in further? 

How do you feel about Pedro Pascal calling Robert Downey Jr. “Daddy Doomsday”? Sound off in the comments and let us know!

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