What Does 'Well, Well, Well' And 'Like A Moth To A Flame' Mean On TikTok? The Alleged 'Dog Whistles' Explained

There's a new spam comment going around on TikTok, but some people think there's more to it than the platform's typically harmless spam comments like the recipe for brownies. These comments are 'Well, well, well' and 'like a moth to a flame' and some users have observed them being commented en-masse under videos featuring Black and Jewish people. Here's what you need to know.

What Do 'Well, Well, Well' And 'Like A Moth To A Flame' Mean On TikTok?

Both "well, well, well" and "like a moth to a flame" are commonly used expressions with similar meanings. The former is most often used as a sarcastic way to express surprise or disbelief in regard to someone's actions, implying that the action they're witnessing isn't surprising at all.

"Like a moth to a flame" is used to express someone's irresistible attraction to something. Throughout 2022 and 2023, TikTokers have started commenting these phrases, sometimes individually and sometimes combined, in reference to certain videos depicting someone doing an action that the viewer perceives as "typical" or "not surprising."

Are 'Well, Well, Well' And 'Like A Moth To A Flame' Dog Whistles?

A dog whistle is a subtle message that is only immediately recognizable to people of a particular group or set of beliefs. People have speculated about dog whistles on TikTok in the past, with popular examples including the gnome hunting meme and the try that in a small town meme.

While the phrases themselves have been used for decades in regular context, TikTokers believe they're being used as dog whistles because of the videos they often seem to appear under. For example, one TikToker wondered why so many users were posting "well, well, well" under footage of the Oxford Street Riots.

Others have shared videos showcasing the comments under videos of Jewish, Black and trans people doing things that might be seen as negatively stereotypical of them, suggesting they're using the phrase to share their lack of surprise. This has led some to believe the phrases have become dog whistles on the platform.

How Are 'Well, Well, Well' And 'Like A Moth To A Flame' Used On TikTok?

The phrases are most often spammed in the comment section of videos. Some claim to have noticed that the phrases are spammed under videos of Black, Jewish and trans people doing something perceivable stereotypical and negative to express a lack of surprise. This has led to a lot of videos where users record their screens as they scroll through comment sections of videos to showcase just how many users are spamming the comments.

The phrase "like a moth to a flame" is often associated with The Boondocks character Uncle Ruckus, a Black man who hates his own race. When it first rose to prominence in late 2022, it was largely used by Black creators in comedy videos to poke fun at common racial stereotypes. In 2023, some TikTokers are similarly suggesting it's a dog whistle due to the videos it appears under, leading to some videos calling it out.

For the full history of "well, well, well" and "like a moth to a flame," be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.