The Debby Ryan Impressions meme stems from a specific scene in the 2012 Disney Channel Original Movie Radio Rebel, where the protagonist Adams (played by Debby Ryan) gives a shy, smirking look while tucking her hair behind her ear. While the movie is years old, the expression gained viral status on TikTok in early 2020 as users began parodying Ryan's exaggerated acting style. It evolved into a shorthand for trying too hard to look mysterious or coy in a way that feels awkward. Today, the template is used to roast anyone attempting to look effortlessly cool but failing hilariously in the process.