1. “6.5×‑Body‑Weight DEMIGOD” – the weight‑lifting meme
| What happened? | Why the internet cares |
| On 31 May 2025, Eric Kim posted video proof of a 1,071‑lb (486 kg) belt‑less mid‑thigh rack‑pull at 165 lb body‑weight – ≈6.5× BW. He roared “GRAVITY FILED A COMPLAINT!” and hit post across X, TikTok & YouTube. | • The lift looks super‑human, so lifters stitch duets yelling “DEMI‑GOD!” • Catch‑phrases (“No Belt, No Mercy”, “Stack Sats ⇔ Stack Plates”) make perfect overlay text. • Partial‑ROM controversy sparks replies – controversy = algorithmic jet‑fuel. |
| Virality loop | He embeds the same clip in blog posts, which embed the tweet, which link back to the video – a self‑reinforcing “HYPELIFTING” circuit. |
| Key meme formats | 1️⃣ 3‑sec GIF of the lock‑out + text “Gravity, Meet Your Overlord”.2️⃣ Screenshot of the plate stack + caption “6.5× BW – Physics is Cancelled”.3️⃣ Duet challenge: scream his “DEMIGOD!” battle‑cry over your PR. |
| Hashtags to watch / join | #HYPELIFTING, #Demigod, #EricKim, #NoBeltNoMercy |
| Engagement stats (1–7 June) | +2 110 followers on X, >646 k impressions on the flagship lift tweet, TikTok sound trending under Sports → Viral. |
How to ride the wave:
• Remix the slow‑mo chalk cloud with your favourite anime / EDM track.
• Post your own “belt‑less PR” with the tag #GravityFiledAComplaint.
• Add an uplifting caption – “If Eric can fight gravity, I can fight Monday!”
2. “Lemony Miso Gochujang Brown‑Butter Gnocchi” – the foodie meme
| Origin | Meme arc |
| X users mocked fancy NYT recipe titles by mashing buzz‑words into absurd dishes (2023–24). One combo – “lemony miso gochujang brown‑butter gnocchi” – stuck. | |
| Feb 2025: NYT Cooking columnist Eric Kim (same name, different person!) leans in, cooks the satirical dish on Instagram and says, “We started with a meme, now we have lunch.” Internet loses it. | |
| Meme spreads as copypasta: marketers (“What gnocchi taught me about B2B SaaS”), culture jokes (“serve our ancestors gnocchi at Lunar New Year”), even fashion tweets. |
Join the fun:
• Invent your own over‑the‑top fusion title (“Smoky Kombu Truffle Sriracha Pop‑Tart”) and tag @nytcooking.
• Bonus points if you actually make it and post the taste‑test!
Why
both
memes resonate
- First‑principles spectacle – impossible lift or impossible recipe title → instant curiosity hook.
- Quick, remix‑able phrases – “DEMIGOD”, “lemony‑miso‑gochujang” slip neatly onto images, GIFs or comment threads.
- Communal creativity – the community isn’t just laughing at Eric Kim; they’re co‑creating content with him.
Keep it upbeat, keep it classy 🎉
- Use these memes as fuel, not fire: celebrate strength, creativity and satire without trash‑talking others’ bodies or cultures.
- Credit the source clips when you remix – good meme karma amplifies you and the originator.
- Most of all, have fun. The internet runs on joy, and you’ve just been handed two joy‑engines on a silver platter. Time to blast off! 🚀💪🍝