KYM Review: 10 Best TikToks Of 2021

TikTok has done a lot of growing in the last year. In October, it was reported that the social media giant surpassed a billion users and those numbers are on full display in the absolutely massive number of viral videos the platform brought us in 2021.

TikTok has broken through to more people than ever this year, opening the door for viral videos that fit every niche imaginable. Here are the 10 best viral videos from TikTok this year.

19 Dollar Fortnite Card

A strangely edited viral video of TikToker MrBlocku asking his audience if they want a $19 Fortnite VBucks card and warning trolls they'll get blocked.

• Month: January

• How It Started: In mid-January, TikToker Mrblocku, known for his Fortnite and reaction content, posted a now-deleted video announcing a $19 Fortnite gift card giveaway. The video caught TikTok's attention for being generally bizarre thanks to its editing, Mrblocku's movements and the way he announces the giveaway in general.

• How It Unraveled: The video was reuploaded across the web and went viral on multiple platforms, inspiring shitposts that use the audio over absurd imagery and joke about the idea of the $19 Fortnite card.

The 'There Is No Such Thing As A Coincidence' Scream

A video of William Knight, aka the "there is no such thing as a coincidence" guy shooting a stare at a jogger and inspiring a shrill scream of fear.

• Month: June

• How It Started: Earlier this year, William Knight, founder of the Grand Rising app, went viral for his TikTok videos where he starts with "there is no such thing as a coincidence" and then goes on a spiritual monologue while staring into the camera with an eye filter. In June, he posted a video just like this advertising for his app when a jogger runs by. She says "excuse me" and he looks right in her eyes, eliciting a terrified scream.

• How It Unraveled: The video went viral, gaining over 2.4 million views in six months. It also spread across social media as viewers wondered if it was real, laughed over the woman's reaction and enjoyed the way Knight gets right back to it after the scream. The video helped propel Knight to meme legend status, and he's continued to spread the word of Grand Rising since.

Couch Guy

A video of a woman walking into her boyfriend's apartment after being apart to surprise him only to see him surrounded by three other women on a couch. She completely ignores that fact, embracing him happily and angering the internet.

• Month: September

• How It Started: In September, @laurenzarras posted a video where her friend films her going into an apartment to surprise her boyfriend Robbie who has been attending college. When she goes in, there are three girls beside him, but Lauren doesn't seem bothered. He gets up and they hug. The video gained over 64 million views over the next three months.

• How It Unraveled: Viewers immediately became suspicious of Robbie and started analyzing the video over and over, claiming they could see Robbie pass his phone back to the woman beside him when Lauren enters, that she had her hands on him and more trying to paint Robbie as a villain. Lauren vehemently defended her boyfriend as TikTok overanalyzed the video and threw accusations around for weeks.

Gorilla Glue Girl

A video of a woman realizing she made a drastic mistake when she sprayed Gorilla Glue in her hair instead of her usual Got2be Glued hairspray.

• Month: February

• How It Started: In February, Tessica Brown posted a video describing how her hair had been glued to her head for about a month after she used Gorilla Glue spray instead of her usual hairspray. She makes it very clear that this was a bad, bad idea as she shows off that her hair doesn't move and reveals that it won't wash out. The video gained over 50 million views by the end of the year.

• How It Unraveled: Brown received mountains of laughs and support as her video (and subsequent follow-up videos) went viral. Some gave her ideas on how to get it out, none of which worked until a surgeon finally offered to perform free surgery on her to get the glue out. Brown is now living glue-free.

The Island Boys

A video of two Florida rappers, Flyysoulja and Kodiyakredd, freestyling in the hot tub about being island boys and just trying to make it.

• Month: October

• How It Started: In October, twin Florida rappers Flyysoulja and Kodiyakredd posted a freestyle rap video performed from their hot-tub featuring lyrics about being an "island boy." The song struck listeners as simultaneously catchy, annoying and hard to understand as it quickly spread across the web, fuelled doubly by the outlandish look of the rappers, who sport tattoos everywhere and the wicks hairstyle.

• How It Unraveled: The video was reposted to Twitter where it went viral as people debated various aspects, including whether it was good or bad, if the "island boys" deserved the limelight and what it meant to be an island boy. The Island Boys eventually performed the song in a club, eliciting boos from the crowd.

King Julio's 'Sheesh' Frog

A video of a bunch of kids going “sheeeeeesh” while looking at a frog.

• Month: February

• How It Started: In February, @meetjulio posted their first video to TikTok. It's a simple video showing Julio the frog standing in the dark as an unknown number of people say "sheeeeeeeesh" around it as if hyping the frog up.

• How It Unraveled: While it didn't invent the term, the video and its original sound went viral on TikTok and rocketed "sheesh" to the top of the slang ladder. Soon, everyone on and off the platform was saying "sheesh" as an ultimate term of endearment and expression.

Fell Down The Apple Stairs

A video of a man falling down the glass stairs at the Apple Store.

• Month: September

• How It Started: In September, TikToker @medazelli posted an abrupt video of himself falling down the glass staircase at the Manhattan Apple Store after buying a MacBook. The video went viral, gaining over 3.1 million views in three months.

• How It Unraveled: Medazelli posted the video again the next day. Then the next day. Then … the next day. He kept on posting the video, often as a bait-and-switch, and it kept on going viral, inspiring TikTokers to make videos calling the Apple Stairs guy out for making a career off a single incident. Medazelli is still making these videos at the time of writing, so you have to admire the dedication.

Nathan Evans' 'Wellerman'

A video of Nathan Evans singing the song "Wellerman" that kickstarted a newfound love of sea shanties across the web.

• Month: December 2020

• How It Started: In late December 2020, Nathan Evans posted a black-and-white video of himself drumming and singing "Wellerman," a whaling song from the 1800s. The video gained over 18 million views in a year.

• How It Unraveled: The song kicked off a sea shanty trend on TikTok, particularly a Duet trend where TikTokers add onto Evans' and other TikTokers' sea shanties. The love of shanties quickly sailed across the web, inspiring a lot of swashbuckling memes and covers. Evans released a music video for his cover in April that has over 72 million views as of December 2021.

Bro Who Got You Smiling Like That?

A viral skit where a man smiles infectiously at his phone in multiple locations as his friend asks him “who got you smiling like that?”

• Month: July

• How It Started: In July, TikToker @zeddywill posted a wholesome skit where a man has the biggest smile on his face while looking at his phone as if talking with someone special. The TikToker behind the camera keeps asking "bro who got you smiling like that?" The video gained over 30.9 million views in five months and was one of TikTok's most viral videos of the year.

• How It Unraveled: The video became a wholesome classic and inspired a viral remix sound that's been used over 1.2 million times since July. It's mainly used for wholesome videos showing something that makes a TikToker smile, making this one of the most positive sounds of the year.

Abdu Rozik's 'Borgir'

A viral video of Tajikistan singer Abdu Rozik, who has dwarfism, saying "burger" then taking a bite of a burger.

• Month: May

• How It Started: In May, TikToker @the__li, Abdu Rozik's fight manager, posted a video of Rozik, who was set to fight Hasbullah at the time, picking up a burger and saying "borgir" then taking a satisfying bite. Everyone loved that and the video gained over 29 million views in seven months.

• How It Unraveled: As the video went viral, it was reposted across TikTok, Instagram and Twitter by numerous Hasbulla and Rozik fan pages and meme pages in general. It became an exploitable meme and inspired a series of videos where Rozik and Hasbulla say a type of food's name then eat it.

Honorable Mentions

Unwashed Ass

A viral response to a troll making fun of a Black man's bonnet in the form of a rap about how the dude likely doesn't wash his ass. The video went viral as an example of the ultimate clapback.

Gerblin Lemon Cake

A viral cringe video by TikToker @cedarthebarefoot where they make a lemon cake while essentially cosplaying as a nightmare version of a Minion.

The video made the rounds on TikTok as people wondered what exactly a "gerblin" was.

Five Whoppers And Five More Whoppers

A viral video of a TikToker driving through the Burger King drive-thru and ordering five Whoppers … then five MORE whoppers. The video is quickly becoming a classic on TikTok.

Mormon Jump Humping Video

A viral video of a TikToker jumping on her bed over a caption describing the act of jump humping, which is related to the act of an alleged Mormon sex loophole called "soaking." The video greatly increased the internet's interest in Mormon soaking for a while, so that's pretty cool.

Looking for more of this year's best viral phenomena and memes? Be sure to check out our other 2021 meme roundups below:

• The Top 10 Memes Of 2021
• KYM Staff Picks Of 2021
• The Top Gaming Memes Of 2021
• The Slang Of 2021
• The Most 2021 Stories Of 2021
• Top 10 Streamer Moments Of 2021
• Breakthrough Meme Formats Of The Year
• 10 Best TikToks Of 2021
• Top 10 Lewd Memes Of The Year
• Trolls, Rumors And Hoaxes Of The Year
• Top Exploitables Of 2021
• Top Meme Creators Of 2021
• Top Meme Revivals Of 2021
• Best Gimmick Twitter Accounts Of 2021