Many One Piece Fans Are Already Clowning Harald For Joining The Holy Knights In Chapter 1167
Harald has barely finished stepping into the spotlight, and the One Piece fandom is already cooking him. Following the latest spoilers for Chapter 1167, which suggest that Harald officially joins the Holy Knights, social media has erupted with memes, jokes, and harsh criticism aimed at what many are calling one of the “biggest sellout moves” in the God Valley flashback so far.
Once introduced as a fierce warrior tied to the chaos of God Valley, Harald quickly became controversial when leaks painted him as someone who surrendered to the World Government instead of standing with Rocks D. Xebec to the bitter end. Now, with new spoilers claiming he not only surrendered but eventually aligned himself with the Holy Knights — the elite enforcers of the Celestial Dragons — fans are labeling him everything from “government lapdog” to “the poster boy for L’s in the Rocks era.”
For better or worse, Harald has become the latest lightning rod in a fandom that’s deeply invested in how the God Valley incident reshapes the legacy of its major players.
“From Revolutionary Potential to Corporate Employee”
Across X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and TikTok edits, fans are already clowning Harald’s alleged decision, treating it as the ultimate betrayal of Rocks’ dream to overthrow the world’s ruling order. Many are joking that Harald went from “potential anti-establishment legend” to “celestial HR department muscle” in record time.
Common fan reactions include:
- Comparing before-and-after panels and calling him the “biggest downgrade of the flashback.”
- Memes of Harald in a suit and tie, “clocking in” at Mary Geoise.
- Jokes framing him as the “guy who talks big about revolution until the job offer hits.”
To a lot of readers, joining the Holy Knights — the same faction that protects the Celestial Dragons and enforces the system that Rocks fought against — feels like crossing a line that can’t be walked back. Even characters like Garp, who stayed within the Marines, are seen as resisting corruption in their own way. Harald, on the other hand, is being mocked as someone who didn’t just compromise — he fully signed on.
Some fans, however, are urging others to wait for the full chapter context, arguing that Oda rarely writes characters who are shallowly “weak” or “cowardly” without some deeper reason. But that hasn’t slowed the meme train at all.
The God Valley Arc Has Taken Over the Fandom
All of this reaction is happening against the backdrop of what many consider one of the most gripping storylines in One Piece history. The God Valley Incident has completely taken over the fandom, with readers obsessively dissecting every new reveal and leak.
Eiichiro Oda’s exploration of this long-mysterious event has pulled together some of the most legendary figures in the series — Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, Monkey D. Garp, and even the shadowy Imu. The flashback feels less like a detour and more like a full-scale historical epic, one that finally shows the brutal foundations the current world was built on.
By exposing the ugly truths behind the Celestial Dragons and the early days of piracy, the God Valley arc has given fans exactly what they’ve been craving for years: a rare glimpse at the “true history” that has always been hidden just out of reach. In that context, characters like Harald becoming collaborators with the World Government don’t just frustrate fans — they feel symbolically important.
To many, Harald’s rumored decision to join the Holy Knights isn’t just a character choice; it represents the countless powerful figures who chose to uphold the system rather than tear it down.
Fans Don’t Want to Return to the Straw Hats Yet
What’s especially telling is that even amid the jokes and criticism, most fans have no desire to leave this timeline behind. Social media is full of readers insisting they’re not ready to go back to Luffy and the Straw Hats — not because they don’t love them, but because the God Valley storyline has become too compelling to walk away from.
This arc’s dark tone, morally gray decisions, and lore-heavy revelations have made it feel like One Piece in a different mode: less adventurous and comedic, more political and tragic. While Luffy’s crew are the emotional heart of the series, the God Valley flashback offers something else entirely — a look at the legends, failures, compromises, and betrayals that created the world the Straw Hats now sail through.
One fan on X described it perfectly:
“If we return to the Straw Hats now, it’ll feel like waking up from a dream.”
That dream includes cheering for iconic names like Roger and Garp — but it also includes the frustration of watching people like Harald “fold” under pressure, and then laughing at him because sometimes humor is the only way to process how messy this world really is.
A Testament to Oda’s Storytelling — Even When Fans Are Mad
The intense reaction to Harald isn’t just proof that people dislike his alleged choice — it’s proof that Oda has made him matter.
The enthusiasm surrounding the God Valley flashback highlights Eiichiro Oda’s enduring genius as a storyteller. After more than two decades, he’s still finding ways to surprise readers with new layers of history that connect pirates, marines, rulers, and now morally compromised warriors like Harald.
The arc’s pacing, emotional beats, and sweeping scope have reminded many of what they consider One Piece’s golden eras: a near-perfect blend of world-building, mystery, and character drama. Even those furious at Harald joining the Holy Knights are, in a strange way, praising Oda — because their anger proves they’re deeply invested.
Some fans worry that returning to the Straw Hats might slow this momentum, but others argue that this contrast between past and present is what gives the story its depth. The flashback shows what went wrong; the present shows whether a new generation can finally fix it.
Whether God Valley ends soon or continues to expand, it has already cemented itself as one of the most defining sections of the series.
Clowned Today, Complex Tomorrow?
For now, Harald is trending more as a punchline than as a fan favorite. The memes aren’t slowing down, and the phrase “Harald fumbled the entire revolution” is already becoming a running joke in parts of the community.
But if there’s one thing longtime One Piece readers know, it’s that Oda rarely leaves characters one-dimensional forever. What looks like cowardice or betrayal today may be revealed as a complicated survival choice tomorrow — or as part of a longer, more tragic arc.
Until the full chapter officially drops and the context is clear, Harald’s reputation will likely remain in that strange mix of mockery and curiosity. Fans may be clowning him now, but they’re also watching him very closely.
Because in a story where God Valley has become the center of everything — and where every choice echoes across generations — even a “sellout” like Harald might end up playing a role no one sees coming yet.
