Have you been on TikTok recently? Well, even if you've spent just a few minutes on the app, chances are high you've spotted numerous videos inundated with the words 'protein bor' in the comments section. For anyone who's noticed this and has no clue what's behind all the madness, do not fret! We're here to break it all down for you. By the end of this article, you'll be the one in your friendship group with all the answers.
Like most TikTok trends, the 'protein bor' fad has a rather comical origin story. It all started with an Irish fitness influencer named James Doyle. Famous for his gym and protein diet videos, he's quickly made his way through the ranks of the TikTok popularity boards. But, it was one video in particular that got everyone talking - one in which he said "protein bar." With his thick Irish accent, his followers couldn't help but laugh at how he pronounced it, sounding more like "protein bor" than anything else. And while you may be waiting for the next part of this story, there isn't one. That is it, folks — that's how the trend was born.
The videos of James saying "protein bar" went viral, as people constantly shared the humorous content with their friends and commented the words in the comments section. While James may not have intended to be funny, we can't imagine he's complaining about his now 166,000+ TikTok followers. "Not in a million years did I expect this. Thank you from the bottom of my heart," he gushed in a video posted on the occasion of reaching 100,000 followers.
@jamesdoylefitness Protein bor are taking their next step #proteinbor ♬ original sound - Protein Bor Papi
Now the trend has expanded to the point where people are commenting the phrase on videos not even related to the Irish influencer. Videos with the hashtag #proteinbor written underneath have accumulated over 6.8 million views on TikTok. Understandably, many confused TikTokers have tweeted their confusion over the sudden 'protein bor' takeover. "I feel like an alien dropped to earth what the heck is this "protein bor" thing? I feel so out of the loop," joked one user. "What the f is a protein bor?" wrote another. Luckily for you, you're all caught up!