The 'Tengo Miedo!' meme originated from a 2007 viral video of a Mexican man named Juan Pablo Vásquez who was arrested in Monterrey. During his interview with the press, his high-pitched, trembling delivery of the phrase '¡Tengo miedo!' (I'm afraid!) instantly became a piece of internet history. While the original context involved his arrest, the internet transformed his genuine terror into a relatable reaction image for any situation involving anxiety, fear, or hesitation. It is widely used to humorously represent the feeling of being overwhelmed by simple tasks, scary life events, or even difficult video game levels, making it a staple of Spanish-language and global meme culture.