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The Viral Truth: 7 Reasons Why "This Shit Is So Ass" Became The Internet's Ultimate 2024 Disappointment Meme

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The phrase "This Shit Is So Ass" is currently one of the most recognizable, yet intensely crude, expressions of disappointment to dominate social media, particularly throughout the latter half of 2024. Far from being a random collection of expletives, this catchphrase has a very specific, viral, and surprisingly recent origin that cemented its place in modern internet culture as the ultimate reaction to something truly terrible or low-quality. This article, updated for December 2025, dives deep into the meme’s explosive rise, its true meaning, and the cultural context that made it an instant classic.

The core meaning is simple: something is extremely bad, terrible, or low-quality. The word "ass" in this context is a slang intensifier meaning "bad" or "shitty," a colloquialism that has been around for decades but was given a fresh, viral injection thanks to a specific piece of manga content. Understanding its power requires tracing its journey from a niche comic panel to a global social media phenomenon used to critique everything from video games and movies to political decisions.

The Shocking Origin of the "So Ass" Meme: An Oshi no Ko Deep Dive

The reason this particular phrasing exploded in mid-2024 can be traced directly back to the world of manga and anime, specifically the highly popular series Oshi no Ko (【推しの子】). The phrase, often rendered with a distinct, dramatic font, comes from a pivotal and shocking moment in the manga’s storyline.

The Viral Panel: Oshi no Ko Chapter 152

The exact moment that birthed the meme is a panel from Chapter 152 of the Oshi no Ko manga, which was released on June 12, 2024. The panel features the character Aqua Hoshino (アクア) in a moment of intense emotional realization and frustration. While the original Japanese dialogue was translated, the English fan translation that went viral—the now-iconic "This shit... is so ass"—perfectly captured the raw, unfiltered disappointment of the moment.

  • Source Material: Oshi no Ko manga, written by Aka Akasaka and illustrated by Mengo Yokoyari (横槍メンゴ).
  • Viral Chapter: Chapter 152, titled "Interview."
  • Character: The reaction is associated with Aqua Hoshino, the protagonist, known for his complex and often cynical personality.
  • Context: The panel appears during a dramatic confrontation involving Aqua and the series' main antagonist, Hikaru Kamiki (カミキヒカル), which was a major turning point in the story.

The panel’s immediate virality on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit in July 2024 was due to its sheer versatility. The image, combined with the blunt, hyper-colloquial text, became the perfect visual shorthand for expressing extreme dissatisfaction with anything—regardless of whether the user had ever read the manga or knew the characters Ai Hoshino or Ruby Hoshino.

Deconstructing the Slang: What "So Ass" Truly Means

While the phrase is vulgar, its power lies in its succinctness. In modern American and internet slang, the word "ass" has multiple meanings, but in this specific construction, it functions as an adjective meaning "bad" or "of low quality."

When used in the phrase "This shit is so ass," the components combine to form a powerful expression of negative critique:

"This shit" (Noun Phrase): Refers to the object, event, or situation being discussed. It can be a product, a movie, a piece of news, a video game, or even a personal experience. It is a highly informal and emphatic way of saying "this thing."

"Is so ass" (Predicate): This is the crucial part. "Ass" is used in place of words like "terrible," "awful," "lame," or "trash." The intensifier "so" elevates the critique, suggesting a level of poor quality that is almost offensive.

In essence: "This thing is extremely bad."

The Cultural Context: Why Gen Z and Gen Alpha Embrace "Ass"

The popularity of "so ass" is part of a broader trend in internet slang, particularly among Gen Z and Gen Alpha, to use short, blunt, and often crude terms to express strong opinions. This linguistic style favors emotional intensity over formal vocabulary.

The term works because it contrasts sharply with earlier, softer slang terms for disappointment. It’s a more aggressive alternative to terms like "bruh" (which expresses disbelief or disappointment) or "womp womp" (which indicates failure or disappointment, often mockingly). The directness of "so ass" cuts through the noise of the internet, making it an effective tool for viral communication and immediate reaction.

7 Reasons Why "This Shit Is So Ass" Went Hyper-Viral

The journey from a single panel in a Japanese manga to a global meme is not accidental. Several factors contributed to its explosive, sustained popularity throughout 2024 and beyond:

  1. The Perfect Reaction Image: The visual panel itself—a character looking directly at the "camera" with a look of utter, deadpan dismay—is an ideal reaction image. It conveys a complex emotion (disappointment mixed with a touch of cynical resignation) instantly.
  2. Manga's Mainstream Popularity: The source material, Oshi no Ko, is a massive hit globally, with both a successful manga run and a critically acclaimed anime adaptation. This provided a huge, built-in audience ready to adopt any viral content from the series.
  3. Linguistic Versatility: The phrase is grammatically simple and can be applied to virtually any situation: a bad video game update, a poorly made meal, a controversial news story, or a disappointing movie trailer.
  4. The Shock Factor: The use of strong language ("shit" and "ass") gives the phrase an immediate, attention-grabbing edge, making it stand out in a crowded social media feed.
  5. Ease of Use (Templates): Meme templates for the panel were instantly created and shared on platforms like Imgflip and Tenor, allowing anyone to quickly caption the image with their own personal critique.
  6. Topical Authority on Disappointment: The meme became the go-to cultural benchmark for expressing that a product or event did not meet expectations, often being used to critique major releases in the gaming, music, and film industries.
  7. It's a "Forever" Meme: Unlike many memes that fade quickly, "This Shit Is So Ass" is a phrase rooted in fundamental human emotion—discontent—giving it a longer shelf life as a timeless expression of low-quality.

The Legacy and Future of "So Ass" Slang

The phrase "This Shit Is So Ass" has permanently entered the lexicon of internet slang, joining other enduring terms like "mid" (meaning mediocre) and "bussin'" (meaning very good). Its success demonstrates the powerful synergy between modern entertainment (like manga and anime) and social media platforms (X/Twitter, Reddit, TikTok) in creating global cultural phenomena.

As long as there are things on the internet—or in real life—that fail to meet expectations, this phrase will continue to be deployed. It is a testament to the internet's ability to take the most vulgar, yet perfectly articulated, expression of frustration and turn it into a universal language of critique. Whether you are a fan of Oshi no Ko or not, you are now fluent in the language of ultimate disappointment. The next time you encounter something truly awful, you know exactly what to say.

this shit is so ass
this shit is so ass

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