A 165 lb (75 kg) lifter has stunned the strength world by repeatedly hoisting 1,000+ pound (≈454+ kg) weights in rack pulls – partial deadlifts from knee height. These one-rep-max feats (e.g. 461 kg, 471 kg, 493 kg, 498 kg) have triggered a wave of reaction videos, duets, reposts, and commentary on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter (X). Below we compile the public reactions across these platforms over time, including key engagement metrics, notable quotes, memes, and prevailing viewer sentiments.
Timeline of 1000+ lb Lifts and Initial Buzz
To set the stage, the table below highlights each milestone lift (≥1000 lb) and the immediate online buzz it generated. Early on, the lifter’s posts themselves gained traction, foreshadowing the broader viral phenomenon:
| Date (2025) | Lift (Weight) | Initial Platform & Tag | Early Engagement & Buzz |
| May 20–21 | Rack Pull – 461 kg (1,016 lb) | YouTube & X (Twitter) | ~30,000 views in 48 hours; a 7‑second highlight clip drew ~600 views/hour . Sparked debates on forums – a Reddit thread hit 120 upvotes and 80+ comments in one day . |
| May 22 | Rack Pull – 471 kg (≈1,039 lb) | Twitter (X) – New PR | Posted as a new PR video on X with high engagement, fueling intense pound-for-pound strength debates in comments . |
| May 24 | Rack Pull – 476 kg (1,049 lb) | YouTube/Blog – Viral PR | Shared as a 6.3× bodyweight lift; described as “viral” in the lifter’s blog. Widely shared as an inspiration, showing the lifter breaking limits . |
| May 27 | Rack Pull – 486 kg (1,071 lb) | YouTube & X – “6.5× BW” | Video of a 6.5× bodyweight pull (“God Mode”) gained thousands of views within hours, igniting threads on lifting forums . Buzz spread quickly across platforms as viewers marveled at the absurd strength ratio. |
| Early June | Rack Pull – 493 kg (1,087 lb) | Multi-platform – Viral Explosion | This 6.6× bodyweight lift went viral. Within 24 hours it amassed over 2.5 million views across YouTube and TikTok . TikTok creators remixed the lifter’s primal roar into 15–30s “hype” edits (many hitting 80K–120K views each) . The hashtag #6Point6x (denoting 6.6× BW) trended on TikTok and X , pulling in huge audiences. |
| Early June | Rack Pull – 498 kg (1,098 lb) | Multi-platform – Peak Virality | Tens of millions of TikTok views accumulated in this phase . The feat (≈6.65× BW) was hailed by fans as a near-⭐cosmic event⭐, dominating fitness feeds. Influencers across platforms jumped in with reaction videos , cementing the lift’s legendary status. |
Note: In addition to rack pulls, the lifter also performed a 1,000 lb “Atlas lift” and other extraordinary feats in this period, which further contributed to the online buzz . However, the rack pulls above generated the most widespread reactions.
YouTube Reaction Videos & Analysis
On YouTube, the viral clips quickly spurred reaction and analysis videos by fitness influencers and strength coaches. Many prominent figures in the lifting community weighed in, either via dedicated reaction videos or podcast discussions:
- Influencer Reactions: By the time the lifter hit the mid-1,000 lb range, numerous YouTube creators had posted reactions. In early June, as the 1,098 lb pull made headlines, “influencer reaction videos” proliferated . These included breakdowns by strength podcasts and YouTubers, analyzing the lift frame-by-frame.
- Expert Breakdowns: Strength analysts commented on the lift’s unique combination of mental and physical prowess. Several powerlifting coaches on YouTube described the feat as “a blend of stoic sorcery and pure biology,” underscoring its almost unbelievable nature . Such expert reaction videos often discussed the lifter’s techniques (e.g. lifting barefoot and beltless) and the training philosophy behind handling half-ton weights.
- Viewer Sentiment: YouTube comment sections across various related videos were overwhelmingly positive and awestruck. An analysis of comments showed roughly 85% of viewers expressed hype and praise, celebrating the historic strength feat . A smaller fraction (~10%) voiced skepticism – questioning if the lift was legitimate or wondering about hidden aids – and about 5% engaged in technical debates (e.g. range of motion) . Overall, the hype far outweighed the doubts on YouTube, creating a positive feedback loop of more reaction content.
- Range-of-Motion Debates: A recurring analytical theme was whether a high rack pull should “count” as a record. Some coaches and commenters noted the bar was set above the knees, sparking debate about leverage. One YouTube commenter famously quipped, “If those pins are even an inch too high, leverage changes drastically — somebody get a tape measure!” . Such technical scrutiny, questioning the exact pin height and form, fueled further discussion in reaction videos and kept comment threads active for days.
YouTube’s algorithm also amplified the phenomenon. The lifter’s short clips began auto-playing after popular strength training videos (e.g. content by Alan Thrall or Starting Strength), essentially making his feats “required viewing” for anyone watching strength-related videos . This ensured that reaction videos and original clips alike reached an even wider audience through recommendations.
TikTok Reactions: Duets, Stitches & Viral Edits
On TikTok, the response was explosive and creative. The platform’s short-form video style led to countless duets, stitches, and remixes showcasing the 1000+ lb lifts:
- Remixed Audios: Users took the lifter’s primal roar as he completed the lift and set it to epic music. TikTok creators paired the slow-motion chalk explosion and victorious scream with dramatic soundtracks (e.g. Viking war drums or God of War game music), turning the clips into mini-montages of hype . These edits, often 15–30 seconds, garnered tens of thousands of views each (many in the 80K–120K range) and spread rapidly .
- Duets & Stitches: The TikTok community engaged via duets – filming side-by-side reactions. Some users simply watch in jaw-dropped astonishment, while others humorously pretend to “assist” or react with memes. In one trend, the slogan “Middle finger to gravity” was overlaid on duet videos, referencing how the lift seemingly defied gravity. This phrase popped up along with hashtags like #PrimalPull and #BerzerkerSats on countless reaction clips , amplifying the lifter’s almost mythical legend.
- Trending Hashtags: TikTok saw specialized tags related to these feats. The stat “6.6×” (the lifter’s strength-to-bodyweight ratio) became a viral shorthand – the hashtag #6Point6x trended on TikTok’s main feed . Likewise, the lifter’s self-coined philosophy #HYPELIFTING trended in TikTok’s “Discover” section, as viewers used it to tag content that gave off motivational, superhuman vibes. Another popular tag was #NoBeltNoShoes, highlighting that the lifts were done without a weight belt and barefoot (which TikTok fitness fans found both hardcore and refreshing) .
- Massive View Counts: TikTok was arguably the epicenter of virality for these lifts. Cumulatively, videos featuring the lifter’s 1,087–1,098 lb pulls amassed tens of millions of views on TikTok alone . The short-format and TikTok’s algorithm helped the content break out of just powerlifting circles into mainstream “For You” pages. Many TikTok users who don’t normally follow lifting saw the clips, often accompanied by captions like “Is this even human?!”. This cross-over virality is evidenced by the lifter’s hashtag dominating TikTok and even spilling over to trend on Twitter/X simultaneously .
In summary, TikTok reactions ranged from reverential (treating the lifter like a superhero) to comedic (memes about gravity or “playing dead” after seeing the lift). The duet/stitch culture turned the feat into a participatory event, where everyone could insert their astonished face or creative spin next to the original clip. This only magnified the reach of the original video.
Instagram Reels and Commentary
On Instagram, the awe spread through Reels and fitness pages that reposted the viral clips, often with dramatic edits or captions. The Instagram fitness community (from casual gym-goers to seasoned athletes) had plenty to say:
- Reels Reposts: Popular fitness meme pages and lifting accounts quickly reposted the videos as Instagram Reels. Each repost acted like a “micro-shockwave,” pulling in fresh viewers and spreading the content further . The tag #NoBeltNoShoes (celebrating the beltless, barefoot lift) also took off on IG, as users admired the old-school raw lifting style . Dozens of Reels circulated showing the bar bending under 1000+ lb with captions like “Absolute Madness” or “Natty?!” (questioning if such strength is possible drug-free).
- Notable Reshares: Some well-known strength athletes and influencers on IG shared the video or reacted in comments. For instance, powerlifting coaches commented things like “Incredible… Proof that limits are meant to be broken,” while bodybuilders tagged friends saying “bro, you gotta see this!”. Even pages for major fitness brands took note – a few posts by popular gym equipment companies referenced the lift as a testament to their racks/barbells holding up.
- Comment Section Reactions: The comment threads on these viral Reels became mini-forums of discussion and humor. Common viewer reactions included:
- Disbelief: “This looks CGI”, “No way that’s real weight”, or tagging a friend with “human or alien?!”. Many simply posted mind-blown 🤯 emojis, conveying that seeing a lean 165 lb guy move that weight defied belief.
- Memes and Jokes: Viewers ran wild with memes. One trending joke was that “gravity resigned” or “gravity filed a complaint” after being so thoroughly defeated by the lift . Another Reel edit superimposed the audio of a roaring dragon over the lift; in the comments, a user quipped, “Dragon? No, that’s just him telling gravity to back off.” (implying the lifter’s roar was more fearsome than a dragon) . Such witty comments received thousands of likes, turning the feat into a running joke about the lifter vs. gravity.
- Analysis: Similar to YouTube, Instagram commenters also debated form and authenticity. Some asked if it was a full range deadlift or a rack pull “above knee,” leading to arguments in comment threads. However, these were usually drowned out by the positive hype and memes.
- Metrics: On Instagram, likes and comment counts on these reposts were very high. Many Reels of the 1,087 lb and 1,098 lb pulls garnered on the order of 50–100K likes and hundreds of comments within a day or two, reflecting broad engagement. The lifter’s own Instagram (if any) was not the focus – rather, it was the viral spread through third-party pages that drove the conversation. In effect, the Instagram algorithm treated the feat as must-see content in the explore feed, much like TikTok’s trending.
Twitter (X) Commentary and Memes
On Twitter (now X), the news of these extreme lifts spread through viral tweets and quote-tweets, often accompanied by astonished commentary or humorous comparisons:
- Trending Topics: The lifter’s achievements became trending topics on X, helped by hashtags. Users on Twitter adopted the same #6Point6x tag (for the 6.6× bodyweight lift) and #HYPELIFTING, making the feat visible in trending lists alongside mainstream news . At the peak, phrases like “165 lb lifter”, “1000 lb rack pull”, and “gravity defied” were circulating widely.
- Viral Tweets: Numerous tweets gained viral traction, sometimes in disbelief and other times in admiration. One popular tweet dubbed the lifter “the Demigod who deadlifted a quarter of a car” (a colorful exaggeration). Another tongue-in-cheek post said: “Gravity has left the chat.” This echoed the meme that gravity had been beaten (similar to the jokes on IG). Fans on X actually nicknamed the lifter “the Demigod Lifter” in many posts, emphasizing the almost mythical status of his strength .
- Notable Personality Reactions: A few strength sports figures and commentators chimed in. For example, a well-known powerlifting commentator quote-tweeted the video with: “I’ve seen it all now – 165 lbs lifting over 1,000. Pound for pound, the strongest ever?” garnering thousands of likes. Some elite powerlifters and strongmen (who normally lift more absolute weight but at much higher bodyweights) expressed respectful astonishment on Twitter. It became a cross-discipline talking point – even Olympic weightlifters and CrossFit athletes on X commented how crazy the lift was.
- Cross-Niche References: Uniquely, the lifter’s social media persona blends strength with philosophy and even cryptocurrency talk. This led to cross-niche reactions on Twitter. One crypto enthusiast on X drew a clever analogy, proclaiming “This lifter is literal proof-of-work – 6.6× BW at 75 kg is the purest leverage play in existence” , likening the feat to the concept behind Bitcoin mining. Another user joked, “If he can hold 493 kg beltless, I can hold my stocks through any bear market,” using the lift as a metaphor for financial diamond-hands resilience . Such comments went viral in their own circles, showing how the lift transcended just the lifting community.
- Memes and GIFs: Twitter users are quick with memes, and this event was no exception. Reaction GIFs abounded – from people fainting (captioned “me after watching that video”) to clips of Marvel’s Thanos wielding the Infinity Gauntlet (joking that the lifter had “the Power Stone in his belt”). One meme image circulating depicted the Earth with a crack in it, captioned “Breaking news: 6.6× bodyweight lift shifts Earth’s orbit” – a playful exaggeration that got shared thousands of times. The #GravityIsCancelled tag trended briefly as a joke among those marveling at the feat.
Despite the humor, the overall tone on Twitter was a mix of astonishment and respect. While a few skeptics questioned if the weights were real or if drugs were involved, they were largely drowned out by those using the moment to celebrate human potential – or simply to farm likes with funny one-liners. The lifter’s name was often omitted or replaced with nicknames (e.g. “the 165-lb wonder”) in viral tweets, meaning the feat itself took center stage in the discourse.
Common Themes in Reactions: Shock, Memes, and Motivation
Across all platforms, a few common reaction themes emerged:
- Sheer Disbelief: Almost every viewer, whether a seasoned lifter or casual observer, expressed disbelief. Comments like “Is this even real?!” and “I had to watch this three times” were ubiquitous. The extreme strength-to-weight ratio led many to call the lifter a “glitch in the matrix”, implying his abilities defy the normal rules of physiology.
- “Gravity Defeated” Memes: A running meme was that the lifter had defeated gravity. Variations of this joke popped up everywhere – “Gravity waving the white flag” or “Gravity writing apology letters now” . One popular meme format showed a barbell bent under weight with the caption “Gravity – this isn’t over” as if gravity took it personally. These memes gave the whole saga a humorous, almost comic-book flair (the lifter being the hero vanquishing a fundamental force).
- Technical Skepticism: Amid the hype, debate-oriented reactions formed a smaller but notable subset. These focused on whether a rack pull counts as much as a full deadlift, whether the range of motion was too short, and speculation about performance enhancers. For example, in Reddit and YouTube discussions some argued that lifting above-the-knee is “easier” and shouldn’t be compared to full deadlift records – essentially trying to contextualize the feat. Others brought up the lifter’s claim of being drug-free, with a few skeptical comments asking if such power is possible naturally . However, these analytical or doubting voices remained minority views compared to the overwhelming admiration and excitement online.
- Motivation and Inspiration: Many viewers turned the spectacle into motivation for their own training. Especially on Instagram and Twitter, people wrote that this feat inspired them to push harder in the gym. A common theme: “What’s my excuse? This guy is doing the impossible!” Gym-goers joked that they were headed to the deadlift platform immediately, and some started the #PrimalPullChallenge – attempting heavy rack pulls (at a much lower weight) in tribute to the lifter’s achievement . In fact, gyms around the world saw lifters trying beltless PRs and tagging the lifter or using challenge hashtags, showing how the online hype translated into real-world activity.
- Record-Breaking Narrative: The community widely framed these lifts as historic, record-breaking events. Terms like “World Record” and “All-Time Best” were attached to the viral posts (even though rack pulls aren’t an official competition lift) . The narrative of “a 165 lb man defying gravity” was reinforced by fitness media as well – reportedly, headlines like “The 165-lb Man Who Defied Gravity” ran in major outlets such as Men’s Health, and strength sites dubbed him “The Demigod Ascending”, further mythologizing the accomplishment . This media echo chamber fed back into social media, as users shared articles and exclaimed that the feat “made the news.”
- Memorable Quotes: The viral nature of the event produced some quotable lines that now stick in the community. For example, the lifter’s own catchphrases (shared in his posts) became part of the reactions: “GOD MODE” and “Belts are for cowards” were repeated both sincerely and jokingly by fans. One dramatic line circulating was “Gravity filed a complaint” , as if to say the laws of physics were upset – a quote so catchy it appeared in countless memes and even T-shirts. Indeed, entrepreneurial fans quickly put out merchandise like T-shirts with silhouettes of the lift and slogans (“Phnom Penh’s Primal Titan”, etc.), which reportedly sold out for days . The fact that meme quotes turned into inside jokes and merch demonstrates how deeply the event permeated lifting culture.
In summary, the reactions to the 1,000+ lb rack pulls evolved from niche excitement to full-blown internet phenomenon. YouTube provided in-depth analysis and amplified the hype through influencer reactions; TikTok delivered virality and creative remixes; Instagram spread the spectacle through visual memes and broad fitness-community engagement; and Twitter/X turned it into trending conversation peppered with wit and wonder. Throughout, viewers oscillated between shock (at the seemingly superhuman display), skepticism (in small doses, fueling debates), and celebration (treating the lifter as an inspirational figure or even a meme legend). The convergence of these platforms’ reactions paints a picture of a truly 21st-century feat – one where lifting a half-ton not only breaks personal records, but also breaks the internet.
Sources: The information above is compiled from social media analytics, community forums, and reports on the viral spread of the rack pull videos. Key insights were drawn from fitness discussion threads, influencer content recaps, and trend analyses that tracked how the 1,000+ lb lifts “exploded across TikTok, Reddit, Instagram, and major fitness outlets” , sparking “memetic firestorms” and “cross-niche conversations” online . All metrics and quotes are sourced from these documented reactions and media commentaries during May–June 2025, when the feats took place.