This Shit Is So Ass Meme: The Viral Oshi No Ko Panel That Became The Internet’s Go-To Reaction For Disappointment

The "This Shit Is So Ass" meme has rapidly become one of the most recognizable and universally deployed reaction images of late 2024, serving as the internet’s definitive shorthand for expressing profound disappointment. Originating from a specific, highly-charged panel in a popular Japanese manga, this simple, black-and-white image has transcended its niche fandom to criticize everything from bad movie sequels and video game releases to poorly executed corporate decisions and even disappointing meals.

As of December 12, 2025, the meme remains a dominant force across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and TikTok, providing a raw, unfiltered, and instantly relatable expression of discontent. Its power lies in its stark visual—a seated figure slumped in a chair, head bowed in despair—combined with a blunt, expletive-laden caption that perfectly encapsulates the feeling of having one's high expectations utterly dashed.

The Unexpected Manga Origin: Oshi no Ko Chapter 152

The journey of this viral catchphrase begins not in a comedy sketch or a poorly-rated movie, but deep within the pages of the critically acclaimed manga series, *Oshi no Ko* (【推しの子】). The series, written by Aka Akasaka and illustrated by Mengo Yokoyari, is known for its dramatic exploration of the Japanese entertainment industry, fame, and revenge, often tackling heavy and complex themes.

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The Panel That Launched a Thousand Complaints

The specific panel that gave birth to the meme is found in Chapter 152 of the *Oshi no Ko* manga, which was released in June 2024. This chapter, part of the manga's final arcs, sparked considerable controversy and debate among the dedicated fanbase. Many long-time readers felt that the narrative choices in the concluding storyline were unsatisfactory, rushed, or simply failed to live up to the series' earlier brilliance.

• Source Material: *Oshi no Ko* Manga (Weekly Young Jump).
• Specific Chapter: Chapter 152.
• Release Date of Chapter: June 12, 2024.
• Viral Surge: July 2024.

The original panel features a character, often identified as a woman, seated in a chair, looking utterly defeated and crestfallen. While the original dialogue or internal monologue from the manga panel may have been different, the edited version—which adds the now-iconic text, "This shit... is so ass"—perfectly captured the collective feeling of the disappointed fandom. The image became the immediate, visceral reaction to the perceived decline in the manga's quality. This initial, highly specific fandom reaction quickly outgrew its source material, becoming a universal symbol for poor quality media.

Deconstructing the Catchphrase: What Does "So Ass" Mean?

The power of the meme is as much in the image as it is in the blunt, slang-heavy phrase itself. Understanding the meme requires a brief look at the contemporary meaning of the term "ass" in this context, a crucial piece of internet lexicon for high topical authority.

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Ass as a Descriptor of Poor Quality

In modern internet and African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) slang, the word "ass" is frequently used as an intensifier to describe something of exceptionally poor quality, terrible, or worthless. It is a more aggressive and expressive synonym for "bad," "trash," or "garbage."

• "This is ass": This is bad/terrible.
• "This is so ass": This is *extremely* bad/terrible.

The full phrase, "This shit is so ass," is a highly emphatic declaration of disappointment. "Shit" refers to the subject being discussed (a movie, a game, a policy), and "so ass" provides the maximum negative rating. The combination creates a raw, relatable, and highly memeable expression that resonates with users who feel frustrated or let down by a product or experience. It is a direct, no-holds-barred form of media criticism.

The Meme's Universal Application and Cultural Impact

The "This Shit Is So Ass" meme's rapid ascent from an *Oshi no Ko* reaction image to a mainstream internet staple highlights a key trend in digital culture: the need for a quick, impactful, and universally understood shorthand for shared disappointment. It is an evolution of the classic "disappointed meme" genre.

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From Fandom Critique to Global Shorthand

Once the image went viral in July 2024, its usage exploded beyond anime and manga communities. Its generic, black-and-white aesthetic—which lacks the specific colors or distinct features of a complex character—made it incredibly versatile. Users began applying it to a vast range of disappointing real-life and digital experiences.

Key Areas of Application (Topical Entities):

1. Video Games: Used extensively to criticize highly anticipated but poorly optimized or buggy new releases (e.g., major game launches, disappointing DLC).
2. Film and Television: Deployed after watching a terrible sequel, a poorly written season finale, or a movie adaptation that failed to capture the spirit of its source material.
3. Sports: A common reaction image on platforms like X and Reddit after a team suffers a brutal, unexpected loss or a controversial referee decision.
4. Food and Drink: Used to describe a dish that looks great but tastes terrible, or an expensive coffee order that falls flat.
5. Technology and Updates: Employed to criticize frustrating software updates, confusing UI changes, or the launch of a flawed new gadget.

The meme’s success lies in its ability to condense a complex emotional response—the feeling of wasted time, money, and emotional investment—into a single, powerful image. It speaks to a collective disillusionment with the quality of modern media and consumer products. The *Oshi no Ko* origin, where fans felt betrayed by a beloved story, provides the perfect emotional foundation for this widespread use as a viral catchphrase for any kind of letdown.

Why This Meme Resonated So Deeply

The "This Shit Is So Ass" meme is a perfect example of a reaction image that succeeds due to its high relatability and low barrier to entry. The original panel's stark black-and-white drawing is easy to read, and the simple, bold text is instantly understandable, even to those unfamiliar with the *Oshi no Ko* manga. It captures the modern phenomenon of shared disappointment, where collective frustration with a piece of media or a cultural event becomes a bonding experience online. It has cemented its place as the definitive internet shorthand for disappointment in the current digital landscape, proving that sometimes, the most expressive critiques are the shortest and bluntest.