Who Is 'Couch Guy' and Why Is TikTok So Obsessed?

Last week, a TikTok showing a woman surprising her long-distance boyfriend at college started circulating. Despite the fact that the woman, Lauren, reassured people they’re very much together, TikTok got very invested in analyzing the video frame by frame, trying to find something that proved he’s a cheater or acting sketchy. And the man, Robbie, became known as Couch Guy.

The Couch Guy hashtag has more than 540 million views on TikTok, and the video has birthed memes and parodies. The most popular trend is people recreating the “surprising my boyfriend” premise, which now extends to animals as well.

@gabskraus
That’s some Robbie behavior right there… #couchguy
♬ still falling for you – audiobear

@stanleythestanman
If you know, you know. #couchguy #catsoftiktok #fyp
♬ still falling for you – audiobear

@dalemurray6
Am I the only one on #couchguy tiktok? #fyp #over30 #dad
♬ Still Falling For You – From “Bridget Jones’s Baby” – Ellie Goulding

The obsessive frame-by-frame analysis was also parodied.

https://www.tiktok.com/@wilfredooooo/video/7014600333833899270?_d=secCgYIASAHKAESPgo8dSjAHgUl2pcvq5t5W8FyxegoMzqRUd5lzBXo%2BCATatmpbr5%2BOqrnoat5dtS1IPpFtqA%2B7BNke2cI%2BaDsGgA%3D&checksum=fe30588aa8d84a9a5eb0c223c87738ae775037b73726b2579b619e16cb69912a&language=en&name=couchguy&sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAAcjh3bD4v2-JPLZAMgsiJMKg4cvGErpNVyOCknIlDoREn5J9NYlB3r90AGpSN-Dbb&share_app_id=1233&share_challenge_id=16466227&share_link_id=94A7F635-A0B1-41A2-BEDF-46A1A7396645&source=h5_m&tt_from=copy&u_code=d333b8a17l32ci&user_id=6621219760691937285&utm_campaign=client_share&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=copy&_r=1&is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v1&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6891292833719813638

Have you had to explain Couch Guy TikTok to your friends and loved ones yet?

@abbieherbert
Like and share to stay on couch guy tiktok. I need more answers #couchguy #fyp #4u #exposed #help #itsajoke #trend #trending #husbandwife #couchguytiktok
♬ Sneaky Snitch – Kevin MacLeod

@rod
Explaining “couch guy” to my Millennial coworkers #coworker #workfromhome #couchguy #tiktoktrends
♬ original sound – Rod

me tryna explain the couch guy tiktok scandal to ppl who aren’t chronically online pic.twitter.com/0xspkSYV2u
— kate (@KateOShea98) October 3, 2021

https://www.twitter.com/nonbinarycowboy/status/1444352573780094979

Robbie, who has apparently embraced the Couch Guy nickname, posted a reasonable response over the weekend, and he addressed people’s odd fixation: “Ur welcome for getting u off berries & cream tiktok, but remember: Not everything is true crime. Don’t be a parasocial creep. Go get some fresh air.” (He might be referencing TikTok’s obsessive investigation of the Gabby Petito case.)

https://www.tiktok.com/@souljawatchambassador/video/7014253284743449861?_d=secCgYIASAHKAESPgo8eGlPvamRLSsDPytOi24qPS5cUzZIEkca4TayzLZN1JeptxzkX7IG9%2BAWUAPSi5AWiljDM%2BuOLQHCTCsVGgA%3D&checksum=c9a3af66c00ee5ca5fd1d787569ccef1e6e57cb53edbfbb86d3990c26344ddfd&language=en&preview_pb=0&sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAAcjh3bD4v2-JPLZAMgsiJMKg4cvGErpNVyOCknIlDoREn5J9NYlB3r90AGpSN-Dbb&share_app_id=1233&share_item_id=7014253284743449861&share_link_id=C2674E85-1425-4B8B-91F4-E655DEEA97C1&source=h5_m&timestamp=1633445077&tt_from=copy&u_code=d333b8a17l32ci&user_id=6621219760691937285&utm_campaign=client_share&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=copy&_r=1&is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v1&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6891292833719813638

But there is also now Couch Guy merch, according to Lauren. The saga continues.