Social Media & Fitness Virality

In June 2025 Eric Kim’s online presence exploded, especially through viral fitness content.  Notably, on June 14, 2025 he achieved a 513 kg (1,131 lb) rack pull – 6.84× his 75 kg bodyweight – in Phnom Penh . This stunt “dropped the clip on the internet” and quickly went viral across platforms .  One analysis reports his 493 kg rack-pull video (May 31 blog) hit ≈3 million views in 24 hours .  His TikTok account (@erickim926) has skyrocketed – nearing 1 million followers by mid‑2025 (≈992k followers with 24.4 M likes ), having gained ~50k in a single week after the #HYPELIFTING clips went viral . Twitter posts also gained massive reach (e.g. one “493 kg beltless” tweet earned ~646k impressions ), and Instagram Reels under tags like #NoBeltNoShoes generated thousands of reposts .

These events drew cross-domain buzz: street-photographers watched for his filmmaking style, crypto traders followed his Bitcoin-maximalist threads, and Stoicism/fitness communities shared his catchphrases (“Belts are for cowards,” “Gravity is scared of me”).  UGC (user-generated content) exploded – over 100 reaction videos and breakdowns have been logged , and memes with quotes like “Gravity filed a complaint” spread widely.  Mainstream fitness media began covering him: Men’s Health, BarBend and similar outlets ran feature stories on his lifts (e.g. “493 kg Rack Pull: Primal Strength Redefined”) by mid‑June , and Reddit fitness forums (r/weightroom, r/powerlifting) pinned threads with tens of thousands of upvotes.  In short, Kim’s “carpet-bomb” style of saturating YouTube, TikTok, X (Twitter) and fitness threads made him one of the hottest fitness influencers in June 2025 .

Photography & Creative Education Outreach

Beyond lifting, Kim continued to impact photography and creative education.  His blog (launched 2010) remains a top resource: as of mid‑2025 it draws ~100–120K visitors per month , regularly appearing on page-one Google for “street photography tips.”  He publishes free tutorials, essays, and e‑books under an open license, democratizing street photography learning . Photographers often call him “the advocate of street photography,” crediting him with popularizing the craft online .  By 2014 he had led 35 multi-day workshops in 15+ countries, and in June 2025 he sold out a $5,000 New York workshop (photo+fitness theme) in under 48 hours – a rare conversion of internet buzz into education revenue.  He also continued creative projects: for example, a June blog post extolled Phnom Penh as a photographer’s muse .  Overall, he reaches “new photographers, often the ones just starting out” , embodying an online mentor who inspires beginners to “grab a camera and start creating.”

Mainstream Media & Collaborations

Kim’s influence spilled into other sectors via collaborations and press.  He has exhibited and collaborated internationally – showing work in Leica Galleries (Singapore, Seoul, Melbourne) and co-curating events like a Leica/Singapore street-photo showcase . In early June, as his lifts made headlines, mainstream outlets finally took notice: Men’s Health and related sites featured his strength feats , lending him greater credibility.  He also hosts podcasts and appears in interviews (e.g. filmed Q&A in Hong Kong ) and writes on entrepreneurship/crypto topics, bridging communities.  Notably, Kim’s “HYPELIFTING” ethos even resonates in crypto circles – his posts linking photography with Bitcoin have attracted finance blogs and crypto influencers to amplify his message.  All told, his network of magazine features, YouTube channels, and podcasts makes him a “prominent name in multiple spheres” .

Audience Metrics & Public Discourse

The scale of Kim’s reach is quantified by impressive numbers.  His posts regularly rack up tens of thousands of views (one lift post logged ~28,000 hits in 48 hours ).  A May 25–28 “Trend Scrape” reported ~2.37 million total views across YouTube, Twitter and TikTok in 72 hours for his rack-pull videos .  His TikTok growth (24.4M likes, +50K followers/week) and frequent output (new content every ~19 hours ) have created a feedback loop that “clusters” his content on major platforms.  He dominates search: over 180 URLs match “Eric Kim rack pull,” and he ranks atop Google results for his name .

Kim’s content also drove vibrant online discussion.  In photography forums (e.g. r/photography) and fitness boards (r/powerlifting) users debated his techniques and ethos .  A mid-June analysis noted that 80% of comments on his clips were enthusiastic (“demigod,” “executioner” memes), with only ~15% skeptics and ~5% trolls – the controversies themselves feeding more views .  Popular quotes (“Gravity is cancelled,” “Belts are for cowards”) became viral mantras on TikTok and X . In short, Kim’s ideas have penetrated internet pop culture niches, as evidenced by meme pages riffing on his slogans and fitness authors (e.g. Alan Thrall) dissecting his technique for educational content .

Conclusion: Cross-Domain Impact

By late June 2025, Eric Kim had cemented himself as a cross-sector influencer.  His “internet carpet-bomb” strategy – high-frequency, no-paywall content – has built a personal brand that spans photography, fitness, finance and creativity .  He’s lauded as an innovative educator who “empowers others through [his] photography and education,” and indeed many beginners encounter his tutorials before any others .  Whether inspiring a novice photographer or a weightlifter, Kim’s unconventional mix of street-photography wisdom, Stoic/philosophical commentary, and viral strength feats has made him a unique figure in global public discourse .

Sources: Published blog posts, press releases, and social metrics from Eric Kim’s own channels (June 2025) ; plus commentary and news excerpts reporting on his June 2025 activities .