The Ryan smirk is just one of the many expressions of the Disney Channel actress-singer featured in her teen shows and movies. It is, however, the one that is seeing the most traction so far.
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ENews caught the teen star on the red carpet on February 17, 2023, and posted what she said about the film.
♬ original sound – Charles Brockman III
The movie premiered in 2012, but it was only eight years later that it broke through into the meme space when creator @hoemoticon on X zeroed in on that particular moment on May 2, 2020. The post logged 62,200 likes.
https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/twittervid.com_hoemoticon_0bf209.mp4
The pots came with the caption: “15 y/o me at a concert in the crowd acting different from the others so my fav can notice me,” making us all recall our own awkward and cringeworthy moments in similar situations.
Creators took the meme and ran with it, making their own versions, copying the smirk, splicing the scene against other awkward instances, or using the look as a comment to cringe moments.
While there is no exact formula for determining whether something will go viral, the Rebel Radio clip was primed for viral success.
Significant pop culture events and references often serve as ideal sources for meme creation. Consequently,teen filmsfeaturing iconic pop culture moments provide a strong foundation for the meme generation.
A 2013 study published in the Computers in Human Behavior Journal found that memes that spark a stronger emotional response were more likely to be shared (2). Cringe is surely a strong emotional response that merits sharing.
How Fans and the Star Herself Embraced the Meme
He mimicked scenes from the movie in comical skits, finishing with the famous clip. His post has been viewed 3.1 million times and has received 725,400 likes.
In a post on X on October 2024, @ehgrimbly posted a split image showing someone mimicking the famous post.
Image credits:@ehgrimbly
“I was serious about my craft from a young age and studied technique alongside Roxanne from ‘A Goofy Movie.’”
She accompanied the joke with a capture of her smirk, a true sign that she knew how to take things in stride. This post of the Disney Star on X has since been deleted.
When TikTok user @rubasworld interviewed Ryan about the viral image on May 1, 2020, the actress explained that you sometimes get “crazy eyes” when trying to make an expression. The interview received 57,700 likes.
♬ original sound – rubasworld
Ryan uploaded a video on August 8, 2020, reprising her iconic movie and series roles in a TikTok fashion show. Her video received 139.5 million views and 26.7 million likes.
the president said to make a tiktok…#whatidwear
♬ Stunnin’ (feat. Harm Franklin) (Explicit) – Curtis Waters
Ryan’s playful spirit when it comes to the meme captivated her fans. They couldn’t get enough of watching the actress dive into the fun, adding her creative spin and keeping the meme alive with fresh content.
Image credits:@midwstindigos
Image credits:@fcktepatriarchy
Ryan has always followed an upward trajectory, from becoming Disney’s go-to gal and starring in a growing roster of films to having some exciting new projects, like an upcoming American Horror Story season. Creators recognized that and jumped into capturing more iconic moments with the star.
For instance, TikTok channel @earthgoneviral pooled clips of Ryan’s meme-worthy moments and interviews. The post was uploaded on December 31, 2023, and has logged 6.6 million views and gotten 658,300 likes.
Debbie Ryan edition:#fyp#funny#meme#culturallysignificant#culturallysignificantmomentinhistory#debbieryan#debbieryanedit#debbieryanchallenge
♬ original sound – Earthgoneviral
Meanwhile, Chris Brockman III’s TikTok channel @theonlycb3 has uploaded videos about Radio Rebel that have garnered millions of views. Two videos, posted on May 15, 2021, and May 19, 2021, received 2 million and 3.1 million views, respectively.
♬ Coming of Age – Blondes
How Memes Keep Celebrities Relevant
Ryan’s example demonstrates how celebrities have the unique chance to leverage memes to their advantage. According to the global marketing agency IMA, memes offer excellent traffic opportunities (3).
When people share memes of celebrities, often without even realizing it, they help keep those stars relevant. However, IMA suggests that the memes have become more critical than the celebrities featured, and when a celebrity attempts to suppress a meme, it often backfires.
For instance 2013, Beyonce’s publicist emailed Buzzfeed, requesting they remove some “unflattering” images of her. Buzzfeed shared the email, drawing attention to the previously ignored photos. Then, the meme took off, turning the shots into an online frenzy.
Image credits: unknown
According to IMA, “Beyonce was no longer the honest, strong, brave woman. She was insecure and oppressive.” Publicists worldwide took notes and learned that quashing authenticity can do more damage than unflattering shots.
Other celebrities who have breached meme status, which has kept them (or their work) relevant and relatable, include ’80s singer Rick Astley rickrolling, Leonardo DiCaprio making a toast, and Nicolas Cage.
Although the celebrity’s works that reach meme status may be older, memes keep them alive in their various contextual uses, sustaining the fame of their work beyond the celebrity’s peak.
References
Thanks! Check out the results:You May LikeEvery State Gets Roasted: 50 Memes That Hit Way Too Close to HomeMariia Tkachenko50 of the Best Memes of All Time That Are Icons of Internet CultureIlona BaliūnaitėThis Online Group Collects The Internet’s Favorite Moments, And These 50 Are So Unexpected (New Pics)Mindaugas Balčiauskas
Mariia Tkachenko
Ilona Baliūnaitė
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