The meme originated in November 2025 when an Instagram user posted a photo of a rooster perched on top of a bare tree with a caption about chickens crossing roads. In December 2025, another creator paired this surreal image with a loud scream meme to react to an awkward dating show clip. The format quickly went viral on Instagram Reels and TikTok, with creators using the screaming bird as a punchline for cringe moments. It remains a popular reaction template for expressing feelings of being overwhelmed.