What does “My Shayla” mean on TikTok?
“My Shayla” is a way to humorously express love in an annoying moment. This popular TikTok meme sees users taking a sound of popular R&B singer and actor, Tyrese Gibson, crying and tearfully shouting “Oh my god, my Shayla” and putting it over sad, heartbreaking, or annoying situations to highlight their love or affection despite their momentary anger. For example, @augustthatgolden posted a TikTok of her puppy on December 30, 2024, with the “My Shayla sound,” captioning it “when I get annoyed at my puppy but remember this is who im talking to.”
“My Shayla” is also a way to call someone or something cute or adorable. Aside from being a display of temporary annoyance, “My Shayla” is also a cute, light way to express your love for something. Typically, this meaning is applied to pets and partners. For example, on April 19, 2025, @bellxx_bril posted a TikTok of a family of capybaras, zooming in on the little one and using the “My Shayla” sound to highlight its cuteness.
Where does the “My Shayla” meme come from?
The meme comes from a clip of Tyrese Gibson pleading for his daughter. During a custody battle for his daughter, Shayla, in 2017, Gibson posted a now-deleted video to his Instagram pleading with his ex-wife to let him see her. He cries for “My Shayla” and says, “This is all I got. Don’t take my baby, okay.” The video initially became the “Crying Tyrese” meme in 2017, and once TikTok users rediscovered it in late 2024, it became the meme we know today. The Crying Tyrese meme was popular on Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit, with users applying memes of Gibson crying to various situations, typically with the caption “what more do you want from me?”
How “My Shayla” Is Used Online
People use “My Shayla” to highlight their love in annoying situations. When someone or something that someone loves does something that annoys them, they typically head to TikTok to post a video of them with the “My Shayla” sound to highlight their love, even when they’re annoyed. The video is usually captioned something like “when they do something annoying but you remember they’re just a little guy.” TikTok Example: On January 10, 2025, @helloshazo posted a TikTok of her cat with the “My Shayla” sound, captioning it, “When I get mad at her, but I remember who I’m talking to” before cutting to clips of her as a kitten to highlight her cuteness. TikTok Example: On January 8, 2025, @mollie.newth posted a TikTok of her cat sitting tall, captioning it “Getting annoyed at him and then remembering who I’m getting annoyed at,” and cutting to a picture of him with his head poking out of the tub.
People also use “My Shayla” to refer to someone or something cute. “My Shayla” is typically used this way to refer to cute pets or partners, but it can be used to refer to anything. People usually take a photo or video of the person or pet they find cute, then put the “My Shayla” sound over it to emphasize how cute they are, sprinkle a few “????????” emojis in the caption, and post it. TikTok Example: On February 20, 2025, @jacinda.marando posted a TikTok of her dog with his toy in his mouth, paired it with the “My Shayla,” and captioned it “When your dog brings you his toys.” TikTok Example: On May 17, 2025, @jazgalvezz posted a TikTok of her little dachshund standing in bed, using the “My Shayla” sound to highlight their cuteness.
Is the “My Shayla” meme problematic?
Some consider it problematic because of where it came from. The circumstances of Gibson’s divorce were evidently heartbreaking for him, so some users have taken an empathetic approach when it comes to the meme. As the sound gained traction, users began reflecting on the situation. One user even commented, “I feel bad. After all these years, I just realized how hurt he was.” Another commented, “Who made this a meme? I feel so sad now,” highlighting how online trends can pull the emotional weight from their real-life origins.” Although the sound is used lightheartedly, some consider it problematic due to how it minimizes Gibson’s heavy emotions during his custody battle for his daughter.
Other TikTok Trends
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Sprinkle Sprinkle On TikTok, “Sprinkle Sprinkle” is used as a way to say “bless your heart” or “blessings.” People typically use it as a mic drop, but it can also be sincere depending on the context. For example, you could say, “If you can’t pay for the date, maybe you shouldn’t be dating. Sprinkle sprinkle” as a mic drop. To use it sincerely, say something like “If he doesn’t even offer to pay for the date, he may not be the one for you. Sprinkle Sprinkle.”
Brat Summer On TikTok, “Brat Summer” is a lifestyle that embraces Y2K fashion, being the life of the party, being messy, and putting yourself before anything else. It’s basically a manifestation of the themes explored in Charli XCX’s 2024 album, Brat, for which it is named. The album’s popularity led to fans declaring summer 2024 as “brat summer.”
My Roman Empire “My Roman Empire” is a TikTok trend where people use the phrase to describe something they think about constantly. It’s typically used to refer to a past situation that they’re nostalgic about, like playing in the park as a kid with no major responsibilities or being a rowdy kid in high school without having to worry about bills.
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