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About
Welcome to Fortnite, Sheldon, is a series of memes based on a scene from the sitcom Young Sheldon in which members of the Cooper family and four people in hazmat suits open the garage to find Sheldon building a small nuclear reactor. The scene originates from season two, episode 13, and aired on January 17th, 2019.
Memes based on the scene began going viral on sites including TikTok and Instagram Reels in early May 2026, as a frame showing the Coopers and the men in hazmat suits standing in the garage doorway was compared to Fortnite's season pass promotional material, which often includes an image of the season's primary skins standing side-by-side. The phrase "Welcome to Fortnite, Sheldon" was further popularized as a catchphrase and through memes including reanimations, recreations and image macros. The memes are often set to a remix of the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate version of "Ashley's Song," which originates from the WarioWare series.
Origin
On January 17th, 2019, Young Sheldon season two, episode 13 aired, titled, "A Nuclear Reactor and a Boy Called Lovey." In the episode, Sheldon (played by actor Iain Armitage) attempts to make a nuclear reactor in his parents' garage to power the neighborhood. In one scene, Sheldon's dad, George (Lance Barber), along with other family members and some men in hazmat suits, walks into the garage to stop Sheldon from making his nuclear reactor. Sheldon remarks, "Am I in trouble?"
The video game Fortnite often promotes its new season passes with imagery that shows the primary skins available in the season standing in a side-by-side lineup.
On May 8th, 2026, TikToker @_the.red.reaper_ posted a meme that repeats the scene of the Cooper family and hazmat men standing in the garage doorway under the caption, "'Welcome to Fortnite Sheldon' ass posture," garnering over 846,000 views in four days. This is one of the earliest known, notable iterations of the meme. It is set to a remix of "Ashley's Song" from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
@_the.red.reaper_ At this point its possible😭 #fortnite #youngsheldon #trend #fyp #viral ♬ original sound – TheRedReaperSpread
The Young Sheldon scene continued to spread in May 2026 as the subject of memes, along with the phrase "Welcome to Fortnite, Sheldon."
On May 10th, 2026, Instagram user chronically.online.christian posted an image macro-style meme using the scene under the caption, "How the Pharisees would genuinely pull up out of nowhere while Jesus was giving a sermon," garnering over 1,000 likes in two days.
On May 11th, Instagram user blarkify posted a version of the meme placing the caption, "I'm crine why did the whole battle pass pull up" over the scene, garnering over 222,000 views and 20,000 likes in a day.
Later that day, TikToker @clay29127 posted an animated recreation of the scene, garnering over 36,000 views in a day.
@clay29127 Welcome to fortnight Sheldon #youngsheldon #grab#vr#fortnite #animation ♬ original sound – clay's world
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