A viral trend set to ‘Man of the Year’ has people sharing receipts from their most toxic relationships.
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The latest TikTok trend has people exposing their terrible exes and most toxic relationship stories, soundtracked to Lorde’s new single, “Man of the Year”—with receipts.
Since the song dropped at the end of last month, the trend has quickly gained traction on TikTok. Typically following a slideshow format, users post a selfie before revealing a series of text messages or, worse, a voice note from truly the worst of villains.
While the trend fundamentally misinterprets the lyrics, which explore Lorde’s gender identity, it has nonetheless opened Pandora’s box online.
One viral post, with almost 5 million views, shows someone scrolling through their ex-partner’s unopened Snapchat messages from other women (they just keep coming). “At least I was pinned,” the TikToker joked in the caption. “That looks exhausting. Is he unemployed” one commenter asked.
Another user posted an actual electronic-dance-music track that her ex created using a crying voicemail message she had sent him. “He cheated, I broke up with him, and then he proceeded to make an EDM song to a crying voicemail,” she explained in the caption.
“I think you’ve found a unique experience,” one person commented. “I’m so sorry. This is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen,” another added.
Some users chose to opt out of the trend. “Could BODY this trend but chose peace,” one TikTok user posted, hinting at some truly damning receipts.
Some videos shared as part of the trend are genuinely disturbing, detailing harrowing accounts of emotional and physical abuse. Around the globe, more than a quarter (27%) of women ages 15 to 49 who’ve been in a relationship report having experienced some form of physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner, according to the World Health Organization.
Even Lorde, the unwitting originator of the trend, felt compelled to respond. Earlier this week, she posted a clip of herself shaking her head as the song plays, her face expressing disbelief. The caption reads: “These messages . . .”
In response to one comment—“Girl, yes, it’s got me scared”—Lorde replied: “I can’t look away.” Another summed up the trend: “Guys, you’re stressing out Lorde.”