Enter Kardon / Exit Kardon

About

Enter Kardon and Exit Kardon are catchphrases used on TikTok associated with GymTok, bodybuilding and weightlifting influencer Evan Kardon (@evankardon) whose known for deadlifting. Evan Kardon became a controversial figure on TikTok for a DUI and allegedly trying to hook up with a 16-year-old decoy in November 2022. This led to the "Exit Kardon" trend that tried to cancel him shortly after.

Origin

The "Enter Kardon" trend was started by GymTok influencer Evan Kardon (@evankardon) in November 2021 as a reaction to the "Enter Kofi" trend started by TikToker kofityrell. On November 25th, 2021, Kardon posted a TikTok^[1] in which he compared himself to another TikToker's deadlifting video, essentially portraying them as weak in comparison. Over the course of one year, the video received roughly 236,600 plays and 34,000 likes (shown below, left). On November 26th, 2021, Kardon posted a TikTok^[2] using the same format with an "Enter Kofi" video. Kardon then included his own intermediate slide showing "Enter Kardon." Over the course of one year, the video received roughly 100,600 plays and 4,600 likes (shown below, right).

Spread

Kardon continued his "Enter Kardon" format and gained more engagement for his videos. For instance, on December 5th, 2021, he posted an "Enter Kardon" video that received roughly 3.6 million plays and 580,800 likes in 11 months (shown below, left). Soon after, others started entering themselves after Kardon's deadlift videos. For instance, on December 28th, 2021, TikToker^[4] ttwinem made an "Enter Tori" video, earning roughly 4.5 million plays and 206,700 likes in 11 months (shown below, right).

Exit Kardon

Evan Kardon became a controversial GymTok figure due to his purported criminal history, which manifested in 2022. For instance, on July 6th, 2022, TikToker^[5] luke_bermingham posted a video that allegedly showed private messages with Kardon in which he threatened luke_bermingham with a "potential lawsuit." TikToker luke_bermingham then made fun of Kardon for the threat, gaining roughly 1.1 million plays and 113,400 likes in four months (shown below, left). On September 7th, 2022, TikToker^[6] coachbeauch posted a video in which he green-screened himself in front of a tweet that showed Evan Kordon's mugshot related to a then-recent DUI. Over the course of two months, the video received roughly 2.8 million plays and 434,600 likes (shown below, right).

Kardon's DUI was booked by local police on September 3rd, 2022.^[7] Following TikToker coachbeauch's emphasis on the information in his video, multiple TikTokers started making "Exit Kardon" content using Kardon's mugshot picture. This then inspired Kardon to also use the mugshot photo for his "Enter Kardon" TikToks. For instance, on September 9th, he stitched a Chillest Dude In America video that used his mugshot, gaining roughly 419,000 plays and 51,800 likes in two months (shown below).

Evan Kardon Messaging 16-Year-Old Minor Controversy

On November 5th, 2022, TikToker^[9] mrgoobreturns posted a video that purportedly exposed Evan Kardon for allegedly messaging a 16-year-old decoy, trying to hook up with the imagined minor by using his internet prowess. Over the course of four days, the video received roughly 2.5 million plays and 356,900 likes (shown below, left). Multiple reactions and memes came from the video with many trying to cancel Kardon. For instance, on November 8th, TikToker^[10] micromegamango posted a humorous video about the situation, gaining roughly 1.5 million plays and 336,500 likes in one day (shown below, right).

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References