About

Relax, Pal, is a quote spoken by a University of Wisconsin-Madison student, presumably involved with the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, which was under investigation after two arrests were made related to a hazing incident, to reporter TJ Dysart for WISN12 after he asks, "Were you hazed, or were you doing the hazing?"

The video was uploaded to WISN 12 News' social media pages in late September 2026. It went viral as the subject of video edits and memes over the following days, many of which ironically paint the student who said, "Relax, pal," in a positive light and joke that he mogged the reporter. The edits often follow up the clip with fraternity-related footage. The video also inspired Accuracy Reenactments and discourse online.

Origin

On September 25th, 2026, it was reported that two arrests were made in relation to a hazing incident with the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, an underground and unofficial frat at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The frat leaders, Brayden Klein and Samuel Vane, both 20 years old, were arrested and released on bail hours later.

Images of the incident were released online that day, which show numerous shirtless students, injured, covered in food and liquid.^[1]

That day, the WISN 12 News YouTube^[2] channel posted a report on the incident, which begins with the reporter trying to interview two people leaving the Alpha Epsilon Pi frat house. He asks, "Were you hazed, or were you doing the hazing?" The student responds, "Relax, pal."

The full video was posted to the reporter, TJ Dysart's TikTok^[3] page on that day, gaining over 2.3 million views in five days.

Spread

The "Relax, Pal" clip became the subject of memes and reactions over the following days as it spread in late September 2026.

On September 26th, 2026, X^[4] user @barryywhitee posted the video, writing, "Absolute chills from the boys of wisco," gaining over 4,400 likes in four days.

That day, TikToker^[5] @fakeangularity posted a video reacting to the clip and claiming that the frat boy mogged the reporter, explaining how he did so in looksmaxxing terms, garnering over 2.9 million views in four days.

On September 27th, 2026, TikToker^[6] @_finnvisualspart2 posted a video edit based on the clip, which shows a compilation of clips after the student says, "Relax, pal," garnering over 2.6 million views in three days.

That day, TikToker^[7] @lilyrzfdl posted a video of herself meeting the "relax, pal" guy, garnering over 2.7 million views in three days.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References