The 'Lea Michele Can't Read' meme originated from a satirical conspiracy theory first detailed in a 2017 episode of the podcast 'One More Thing.' Hosts Jaye Hunt and Robert Ackerman humorously suggested that the Glee actress never learned to read, citing her early start on Broadway and supposed reliance on cue cards or memorization. The joke spiraled across Twitter and TikTok, with fans analyzing clips of her performances or her staring blankly at teleprompters. Despite the actress eventually poking fun at the rumor herself on social media, the meme remains a staple for reacting to situations involving long texts, complex instructions, or willful ignorance. It is widely used to express the feeling of being overwhelmed by written information or simply to participate in one of the internet's most enduring celebrity urban legends.