You've seen the face. That pink, bewildered Decapodian shrugging his claws while the caption "Zoidberg why not both" flashes across your screen. It’s the ultimate internet "get out of jail free" card. Whenever two people are arguing about whether to get pizza or tacos, someone drops that Zoidberg meme. It’s basically law at this point.
But here’s the thing: Dr. John Zoidberg never actually said it.
I know, I know. It feels wrong. Like finding out your favorite childhood snack was actually made of cardboard. We remember the voice—Billy West’s iconic, gravelly, marbles-in-his-mouth delivery—practically vibrating through the text. We can hear him saying it. Yet, if you scrub through every single episode of Futurama, you won't find it.
The Mystery of Zoidberg Why Not Both
Memes are weird. They're like digital games of telephone where the final message bears almost no resemblance to where it started. The zoidberg why not both phenomenon is a classic example of a "Mandela Effect" style mashup. People took a character who is famous for being an unloved, desperate third wheel and paired him with a catchphrase from a taco commercial.
The phrase "Why not both?" (or more accurately, "Por qué no los dos?") actually belongs to Mia Agraviador. She was the six-year-old girl in a 2006 Old El Paso commercial. In the ad, her family is fighting over hard versus soft tacos. She shrugging and asks the golden question. Boom. Instant legend.
So, how did the lobster get involved?
It started around 2011 on Reddit and 4chan. At the time, "Why Not Zoidberg?" was already a massive meme. That one also wasn't a direct quote, though it was closer to his character's vibe of constantly begging for attention. Eventually, the internet’s collective brain just fused the two together. Zoidberg’s shrugging posture in several scenes looks almost identical to Mia’s shrug in the taco ad.
The internet loves a loser. Zoidberg is the ultimate loser. By giving him a line that solves everyone’s problems, the meme creates a hilarious irony. The guy who lives in a dumpster is suddenly the voice of reason.
Why the Internet Can't Let Go
Honestly, the zoidberg why not both meme works because it taps into a very specific kind of modern indecision. We live in an era of infinite choice. Should you watch a gritty drama or a mindless sitcom? Why not both? Should you save your money or buy that $12 artisanal grilled cheese? Zoidberg says do both.
It’s a linguistic Swiss Army knife.
The meme’s longevity is also thanks to Futurama’s weirdly immortal status. The show has been cancelled and revived more times than a soap opera villain. Every time it comes back, a new generation of fans discovers Zoidberg's pathetic charm. They see the meme, they search for the episode, and they realize—just like you did—that they've been lied to by a JPEG.
Beyond the Meme: The Real Zoidberg Quotes
If you're looking for real Zoidberg gold, you don't need to make stuff up. The show's writers gave him some of the most quotable, albeit tragic, lines in animation history.
- "You all still have Zoidberg. YOU ALL STILL HAVE ZOIDBERG!" (The actual line people often confuse with the meme).
- "Hooray! People are paying attention to me!"
- "One art, please!"
- "My name is isn't Slick. It's Zoidberg. John D. Zoidberg!"
There's a specific pathos to Zoidberg that makes the "why not both" sentiment fit him, even if it's fake. He is a creature of immense hunger and zero social standing. Of course he wants both. He wants everything. He once ate a literal bag of garbage and thanked the person who threw it away.
How to Use the Meme Today (Without Looking Like a Bot)
Look, if you're going to use zoidberg why not both, you've got to understand the subtext. It’s no longer just about tacos. In 2026, using this meme is a bit of a "vintage" move. It’s retro-internet.
It works best when the two options are actually mutually exclusive or ridiculous.
Example: "Should I work out or eat an entire chocolate cake?" Response: Insert Zoidberg shrug zoidberg why not both.
It’s the absurdity that keeps it fresh. If you use it for serious business decisions, you’ll look like you’re trying too hard. If you use it to justify why you’re wearing socks with sandals? Perfection.
Common Misconceptions to Clear Up
- Did he say it in the movies? No.
- Is it in the Hulu revival? They've made meta-jokes about his popularity, but the specific "Why not both" phrasing remains a fan invention.
- Was it a deleted scene? Nope. Just a very well-executed fan edit that went viral before we had terms like "deepfake."
The Actionable Truth
If you want to be a true Futurama historian, stop telling people he said it. Instead, appreciate the meme for what it is: a brilliant piece of folk culture. The internet created a version of Zoidberg that is more helpful and confident than the one in the show.
Next time you’re stuck between two choices, don't stress about the "correct" quote. Just shrug your claws, find the nearest dumpster, and embrace the chaos.
Next Steps for Zoidberg Fans:
- Check out the Season 2 episode "Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love?" to see the origin of his famous "scuttle."
- Follow Billy West on social media; he occasionally does the voice for fans and it’s pure nostalgia.
- Use the meme sparingly—it’s a classic, but don't kill it.
