Some TikTok viral challenges do little to no harm to its participants, like moms flashing their breastfed babies or putting their babies’ patience to the test. Other viral challenges, like the nutmeg challenge, are quite risky. The latest viral TikTok challenge — the “purse challenge” — lands in the middle as people smack their significant others, siblings, parents, or friends with various objects for their own claim to fame. Bruised egos and faces are no match against the latest batch of viral videos.
What Is the Purse Challenge?
The challenge involves two people sitting in a car. One person picks up an object from the backseat, typically a bag, and “accidentally” smacks the person in the other seat with it. After they rummage through the bag, they put it back in the backseat and “accidentally” smack the person again. The goal is to accomplish all of this while acting like it’s done unintentionally. And the more dramatic or rough the hit is, the better the video spreads, so it seems.
The prank videos have gone viral across TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter as more people join in.
The Celebrity Victim: Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields fell victim to her daughter Rowan’s TikTok video. As they sit in the front seats of their car, Rowan looks through her backpack. She slings it to the backseat, but not before using it to smack her mom directly in the face.
Her daughter laughs uncontrollably as Shields holds her possibly-busted lip in disbelief, questioning if she meant to hit her and what she had in her bag.
Not Just Purses, But Babies Too
@trenchfamily OMG watch how hard I hit him the second time😱😂 ##foryou ##fyp ##tiktok ##trending ##viral
♬ original sound – trenchfamily
People aren’t just using bags to complete the challenge. TikTok users @trenchfamily uploaded their take on the challenge using their toddler. The mom grabs the son from the backseat, only to return him moments later as she smacks the dad in the face with the toddler.
The challenge isn’t all fun and games for everyone. Many have spoken out against the prank, drawing attention to the person being smacked and labeling it as abuse. The vast majority of people, however, continue to laugh and share the latest challenge over social media.
This challenge isn’t even funny. It’s abusive. Call me overly sensitive but idgaf https://t.co/wSPlZP4AIe
— YT: MANDISA DINDI (@Badgaldindi) May 18, 2020
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Purse Challenge TikTok — Sources
Republic World — What is the purse challenge on TikTok that has been trending on social media?
Women’s Health Magazine — Brooke Shields’ daughter just smacked her in the face with a backpack for a TikTok video