The Kevin James Smirking meme originates from a 1998 promotional Getty Image taken for the sitcom 'The King of Queens.' The photo features actor Kevin James wearing a flannel shirt, shrugging his shoulders with a bashful, sheepish grin and his hands in his pockets. While the image is decades old, it went viral on X (formerly Twitter) in late 2023 as a reaction image. It is typically used to represent a person acting humble after doing something slightly annoying, making a bad joke, or simply being 'the main character' in a self-deprecating way. Its sudden resurgence solidified it as a versatile tool for ironic humor and relatable social media commentary.