What the heck is an Internet Daddy?

David Harbour. Jeff Goldblum. Idris Elba. Oscar Isaac. Christopher Meloni. Jon Hamm. Stanley Tucci. John Krasinski. 

What do these names have in common?

They have all, at some point, been known as the Internet's Daddy.

Now, the latest celebrity to join the ranks is Pedro Pascal. Yes, Pedro Pascal is dominating our screens right now, and the world wide web can't handle it.

But before we get into the internet's latest obsession, let us take you back to the rise of the Internet Daddies:

What is an 'Internet Daddy'?

Image: Mamamia.

The 'Internet Daddy' is essentially an upgrade to the 'Hollywood Heartthrob'.

While Hollywood Heartthrobs like Brad Pitt and Chad Michael Murray dominated the posters on our walls in the 1990s and the 2000s, Internet Daddies infiltrate our lives in a very different way, taking over our social media feeds in the form of TikTok thirst traps and Instagram fan pages.

And yes, the term 'Daddy' has been around for years, however the 'Internet Daddy' is a new-ish phenomenon. 

First of all, it doesn't mean "father". Instead, it's a term of endearment used to describe a male celebrity who has suddenly adopted the love and adoration of (almost) the entire internet. 

It's a term that signifies confidence, power, and a certain level of... ruggedness.

He's the type of man that you could trust with your drink at a club. The kind of man who would listen to your problems. Like, actually listen.

While the Hollywood Heartthrob title was often reserved for breakthrough leading men and romantic comedy favourites – think Ryan Gosling in The Notebook, Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You, or Brad Pitt in... anything – the Internet Daddy takes many forms.

In fact, Internet Daddies are rarely known for their romantic roles. Instead, they might play a lone bounty hunter or a pilot in the Star Wars universe. Or they're the stoic, reluctant father figure in Stranger Things. (We're looking at you, David Harbour.)

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Who is Pedro Pascal?

So, now that we're all on the same page, let us introduce you to the latest Internet Daddy: Pedro Pascal.

Over the years, the 47-year-old actor has proven his ability to take on vastly different roles, including the battle-worn bounty hunter Din Djarin in The Mandalorian, the cocky Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones, and the hilarious Javi Gutierrez in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

Most recently, the actor has starred in the record-breaking series The Last of Us, which has become a huge topic of conversation both online and around the water cooler.

Based on the popular 2013 game of the same name, the post-apocalyptic series largely follows Joel (played by Pascal), a hardened survivor who is hired to smuggle teenager Ellie (played by Bella Ramsey) out of an oppressive quarantine zone.

Over the nine weeks that the series has aired, social media has been taken over with love and adoration for Pascal. And with The Mandalorian also recently returning to our screens, interest in Pascal has only heightened. (It's important to note that Pascal takes on a paternal role in both The Last of Us and The Mandalorian. In fact, he basically plays an emotionally unavailable loner-turned-surrogate-dad in both roles.)

Pedro Pascal in The Last of Us. Image: HBO.

Why does everyone love Pedro Pascal?

Pedro Pascal's newfound Internet Daddy status is about much more than his rugged, handsome looks. So, why does everyone love him? Let us explain.

Pedro Pascal is the kind of Internet Daddy that your mum will love just as much as you.

He's the definition of what a modern man can be. He's supportive, kind, and open. He's the kind of guy that would always remember your birthday. And he definitely wouldn't leave you on 'read'. 

As seen in his recent interviews and media tours, he has a sense of humour. And he definitely doesn't take himself too seriously. 

In fact, Pascal has responded to his Internet Daddy status a number of times.

"I am your cool, slutty daddy." -Pedro Pascal #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/yeQYkcHW1F

— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) January 16, 2023

When a reporter asked the actor if he knows he is "the daddy of the internet," Pascal smiled, before reading a tweet about his Internet Daddy status.

"I call Pedro Pascal a DILF and think he's my cool, slutty father," the tweet said.

"Yup, I'm your cool, slutty Daddy," he responded, smiling.

Yes. Yes you are.

Feature Image: Mamamia.

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