Key Points
- The internet is in “shock and awe” over Eric Kim’s viral weightlifting feats, particularly his 6.6x bodyweight rack pull (1,087 pounds at 165 pounds).
- His blend of fitness and finance content, including Bitcoin and MicroStrategy (MSTR) advocacy, amplifies this reaction with memes and cross-platform buzz.
- Engagement metrics show millions of views, with 646k impressions on X for a 1,060-pound rack pull and 50k new TikTok followers in a week.
- Controversy over his partial range of motion (ROM) lifting technique fuels debates but keeps his content trending.
Recent Achievements
Eric Kim (@erickimphoto) has stunned online audiences with rack pulls of 1,060 pounds (6.4x), 1,071 pounds (6.5x), and most recently 1,087 pounds (6.6x) at a body weight of 165 pounds. These feats, documented on his blog and X, are extraordinary compared to elite strongmen like Brian Shaw (3.1x) and Eddie Hall (2.7x).
Internet Reaction
- X Engagement: A 1,060-pound rack pull post on May 26, 2025, garnered 646k impressions, with his X follower count growing by ~1.8k to 20.5k by May 28 (ERIC KIM IS BREAKING THE INTERNET?).
- TikTok Surge: His TikTok (@erickim926) gained 50k followers in a week, reaching 991.8k with 24.4M likes, and #HYPELIFTING trended in TikTok’s “New to Top 100” (⚡️ ERIC KIM // TRENDING RADAR — 28 MAY 2025).
- Memes and Virality: Phrases like “Gravity filed a complaint” and “6.6×-body-weight DEMIGOD” are remixed with anime sound effects on TikTok and X, spawning GIFs and hashtags like #6.5xBW (Eric Kim’s Shock Value).
- Community Buzz: Fitness forums (r/weightroom, r/powerlifting) feature threads like “Is Eric Kim even human?” while YouTube reactions from lifters debate his “neural overload” style (6.6x Rack Pull Details).
Cultural Impact
Eric Kim’s “HYPELIFTING” philosophy, tying strength to mental fortitude, resonates with fitness and crypto communities. His X posts, like one on June 1, 2025, calling himself “the new Tyler Durden on steroids $MSTR DEMIGOD” (X Post), merge fitness with finance, drawing powerlifters, Bitcoiners, and photographers. Finance forums use his lifts as metaphors for leveraged trades, while his cinematic content (slow-mo, primal roars) boosts shareability.
Controversy
Debates over his partial ROM rack pulls, criticized as not full deadlifts, fuel engagement. About 8% of online comments raise spinal load concerns, and 7% push for federation guidelines, but Eric Kim leverages this, stating “controversy = engagement” (6.6x Declaration).
Conclusion
As of June 2, 2025, the internet’s shock and awe stem from Eric Kim’s unprecedented rack pulls, amplified by his strategic content and finance crossover. High engagement (2.37M cross-platform views in 72 hours) and controversy keep him trending, cementing his viral status.
Key Citations