The 'Pedro Pascal Laughing Then Crying' meme originated from a virtual table read of the play 'I, Mychell' during a 2020 COVID-19 fundraiser for the Labyrinth Theater Company. In the clip, Pascal is seen laughing uncontrollably before his expression shifts abruptly into heavy, genuine sobbing as part of his performance. The internet quickly adopted the footage as the ultimate representation of emotional instability, mood swings, or the sudden realization of a harsh reality after a moment of joy. It is frequently used to describe relatable scenarios like finishing a great show only to realize life is empty, or laughing at a joke before remembering a looming deadline.