About

But You Can't Prove It, also known as James Doakes Reaction Images, refers to a series of image caption memes using reaction images of Dexter character James Doakes (played by actor Erik King) with determined looks on his face, including an image of him driving a car and an image of him holding a drink in a bar. The memes feature captions about knowing that someone is hiding a secret from you, but you can't prove it, a reference to Doakes, who believes Dexter Morgan is a serial killer but is unable to prove it. The format was popularized online throughout 2025 on sites like TikTok and X / Twitter, first appearing online as early as September 2024 on Reddit.

Origin

In Dexter, Detective James Doakes suspects that Dexter Morgan is a serial killer and is constantly trying to get the evidence needed to prove it.

On September 23rd, 2024, Redditor u/liyah4455 posted an image macro to the /r/Dexter^[1] subreddit using an image of Doaxes driving a car under the caption, "How it feels when you're right but you can't prove it," garnering over 3,300 upvotes in 10 months. This is the earliest known instance of the meme.

Spread

Memes following the same format became increasingly popularized starting in April 2025, particularly on TikTok.

For example, on April 2nd, 2025, TikToker^[2] @.a5l9 posted several version of the meme set to the Dexter theme song using the same caption over three different images of Doakes, reading, "When you know your brother is gooning but don't have proof," garnering over 6.9 million views in three months.

On April 10th, TikToker^[3] @__.darwizzy988__ posted a verison of the meme using an image of Doakes drinking in a bar, reading, "When bro says he's going Thailand for the food and beaches but you know the kind of man he is you just don't know how to prove it," garnering over 6.9 million views in the same span of time.

On April 17th, 2025, TikToker^[4] @honestlybored_ posted a version of the meme captioned, "how it feels knowing that that one shop in your city is a money laundering scheme but you can't quite prove it," gaining over 17 million views in three months.

On June 14th, TikToker^[5] @goodguyglez posted a video captioned, "when your gf is mad at you but you can't prove it," featuring footage of the TikToker and his girlfriend, followed by the Doakes meme, garnering over 4.8 million views in a month.

In July 2025, the meme started to go viral on X. For example, on July 16th, 2025, X^[6] user @Nugjokes posted the image of Doakes at the bar, writing, "When you know there’s something weird about Pedro Pascal but you just can’t prove it yet," garnering over 205,000 likes in a day.

On July 17th, X^[7] user @jaybronious posted a version referencing the viral Astronomer CEO caught having an affair at a Coldplay concert, writing, "That one coworker at Astronomer who always knew something was going on but never had proof until the Coldplay clip came out.," garnering over 44,000 likes in under a day.

Various Examples

@simo.sail Dr Umar can’t fool me #fyp #viral #relatable #trending #snowbunnies #drumar #dexter ♬ Blood Theme (From "Dexter") – Carlos Marquez

@dannyphantessa I want her too #fyp #kingjordana ♬ Blood Theme (From "Dexter") – Carlos Marquez

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