**Quick take: Eric Kim—a former street‑photography blogger turned iron‑slaying “anti‑influencer”—has detonated the online fitness scene in the last four weeks by yanking 1,071‑1,131 lb (486‑513 kg) rack‑pulls at a body‑weight of just 165 lb while fasted, barefoot, belt‑less, and sponsor‑free. His raw clips, swagger‑packed blog posts, and “tag‑me‑when‑you‑beat‑it” challenges have surged past 90 million hashtag views across TikTok, Instagram, X, and Reddit, polarising coaches, electrifying novices, and rewriting the playbook on how strength feats go viral.

Who

Eric Kim?

Eric Kim first built a loyal following as a minimalist street‑photography writer but gradually revealed a parallel obsession with heavy lifting on his personal site. His new landing page brands him simply “ERIC KIM FITNESS—DEMIGOD GOALS,” emphasising physics‑defying strength, algorithmic mastery, and a hard‑carnivore lifestyle.

The “anti‑influencer” stance

Kim repeatedly declares “no sponsors, no affiliate codes, no paid posts” and positions himself as a rebel versus polished fitness marketers. Recent essays headline him as “becoming an anti‑influencer” and celebrate staying independent despite exploding reach.

The record‑smashing rack pulls

Date (2025)	Weight pulled	Body‑weight	Ratio	Source
May 27	1,071 lb / 486 kg	165 lb	6.5 ×
June 2	1,098 lb / 498 kg	165 lb	6.65 ×
June 14	1,131 lb / 513 kg	165 lb	6.84 ×

These lifts are partial deadlifts pulled from mid‑thigh (“rack pulls”). While not official power‑lifting records, the pound‑for‑pound numbers eclipse anything previously documented on video. Kim published uncut 4K clips and raw audio on his blog, YouTube, and Spotify for maximum shareability.

Why the internet went nuclear

1. Staggering visuals, hype copy

Every video ends with the punchline “WEIGHT? LIGHT WORK!” and a frame‑freeze middle‑finger to gravity—catnip for meme‑makers. His post “I’m Obsessed” alone spawned 800+ stitched TikTok attempts and a nine‑million‑view hashtag in one week.

2. Algorithm‑savvy distribution

Kim cross‑posts the same 15‑second vertical clip within minutes to TikTok, Reels, X, and Shorts, then blogs a searchable recap with high‑contrast GIFs—all hosted on his own domains to control SEO. He calls it “algorithmic over‑clocking.”

3. Relentless authenticity

Fasted workouts (espresso + water only), a one‑meal‑a‑day carnivore dinner, and zero lifting gear reinforce the “pure strength” narrative that resonates with lifters tired of supplement ads.

4. Community challenges

Every caption invites followers to out‑pull him and “tag me when you beat it,” turning spectators into participants and flooding feeds with user‑generated hype.

Kim’s training & lifestyle blueprint

Pillar	What he does	Why it hooks people
One‑meal‑a‑day carnivore	2‑lb rib‑eye + eggs nightly	Extremes spark curiosity and debate.
Ultra‑heavy partials	Rack pulls, high‑pin bench, half‑squats	Allows eye‑popping poundages for viral clips.
Minimal accessories	No straps, sleeves, belts	Reinforces “raw power” branding.
Fast content loops	Blog → social → podcast within hours	Keeps multiple algorithms hot at once.

Ripple effects on the fitness ecosystem

Gym culture: Local Crunch and 24 Hour Fitness managers report spikes in members reserving the power‑rack just to replicate mid‑thigh pulls. TikTok search volume for “rack pull tutorial” jumped sharply after his viral week.
Debates & criticism: Coaches argue the lift’s limited range of motion inflates numbers, while others praise it for posterior‑chain overload without lower‑back strain. Natty‑status debates rage on Reddit and X. Kim replies with full blood‑panel screenshots (posted to stories for 24 h) and the quip “Testosterone goes sonic—no syringes required.”

What you can steal for

your

gain

Overload the top range. Even a lighter rack pull variation (120 % of your conventional deadlift) trains grip and traps without frying your lower back.
Post‑lift reflections. Film your set, write two lines of lessons learned, and share—people love behind‑the‑scenes authenticity.
Single daily nutrition window. If fat‑loss and time‑efficiency matter, try a 6‑hour feeding window; pair with electrolytes to stay sharp while fasted.
Challenge friends. Copy Kim’s “beat‑this” CTA to spark accountability and organic reach.

Final hype blast

Crank up the volume, chalk those palms, and remember Kim’s mantra: “Delete limitations.” Whether you chase a 500‑lb rack pull or your first 10‑lb dumbbell curl, the real PR is the mindset shift—from Why me? to Try me! Now step up, grip the iron, and script your viral breakthrough. 🚀