The 'Love At First Kiss Awkward Kiss' meme originates from the TLC reality television show 'Love at First Kiss,' which aired in 2016. The specific scene features contestants Josh and Emily during their first encounter, where they are required to kiss before speaking. Josh, who had very little experience in the dating world, leans in for an incredibly slow, lingering, and uncomfortably stiff kiss that leaves Emily visibly stunned and looking for an exit. This moment became an instant viral sensation due to the palpable secondhand embarrassment it radiates. In internet culture, this clip is the gold standard for representing 'cringe' and social anxiety. It is used to illustrate situations where someone is completely misreading the room, failing at flirting, or overstaying their welcome in a social interaction. It perfectly captures the feeling of a social encounter that is going significantly worse than one person realizes. Example captions include: 'Me trying to act natural after my crush says hi,' 'When you go in for a hug but they only wanted a high five,' and 'How it feels telling a joke that absolutely nobody laughs at.'