TikTok Scandal: The Biggest Controversies on the Platform

Social media is not a stranger to controversy; nothing can be farther from the truth, in fact. And TikTok has seen more than its fair share, especially considering it has been around for less than a decade. Unless you’ve lived under a rock, you’ve probably heard of at least one TikTok scandal. 

Here’s a quick look at the biggest shockers so far!

The Biggest TikTok Scandals Through the Years

Many creators will do whatever it takes to go viral on TikTok. After all, publicity is publicity, whether it’s good or bad. 

One-upping everybody else is the name of the game if you want hundreds of thousands or millions of views and engagement. It’s not surprising that controversy is rife on the video-sharing platform. 

From licking a toilet seat to prank crimes and real ones, let’s go through TikTok’s scandalous list!

Would You Lick a Toilet Seat To Go Viral?

TikToker Ava Louise did and earned 400,000 video views. In March 2020, she shared a video where she was “licking” an airplane toilet seat. 

This was during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the TikToker made light of the virus with her stunt. In her post, she said, “Coronavirus is for people and poor people only.”

The video caused a lot of outrage on social media, but the backlash did not stop the creator from adding fuel to the fire. She also insulted the elderly and the LGBTQ+ community. Later, Ava Louise claimed that she faked the toilet-licking video. She said she only wanted to troll the media to become global news. 

Faking a Bank Robbery for TikTok Engagement

Twins Alan and Alex Stokes faked a bank robbery in October 2021 to gain engagement and notoriety on TikTok and YouTube. 

The twins staged the robbery, leaving a bank wearing ski masks and carrying bags of cash. Four hours later, they performed a similar stunt at the University of California in Irvine. 

The police arrested the twins, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor false imprisonment and reporting false emergencies. 

Lies, Lies, and More Lies To Get Attention

Social media influencer Lovely Peaches (Brittany Johnson in real life) relies on controversy and allegedly lies to get attention. Many of her videos contain false and outrageous claims. 

In one video, she lied about trafficking and killing her daughter. In another, she said she paid someone to sexually assault Charli D’Amelio. 

In January 2021, the police detained Lovely Peaches for alleged animal abuse. This was after she posted a video claiming that she threw her dog out a window. 

The police eventually removed her Jack Russell Terrier from her care. Lovely Peaches told police she shared these videos because she knew it would get her attention online. 

The MomTok Scandal

In May 2022, #MomTok creator Taylor Frankie Paul revealed in a TikTok video that she and her husband were getting a divorce. #MomTok refers to content featuring the lives of modern Mormon wives. 

In the video, Taylor also spilled the beans on some of the TikTok Mormon community’s “soft swinging” practices.

The video went viral beyond TikTok’s For You feeds and eventually led to the reality TV series, Secret Lives of the Mormon Wives. The Church of the Latter-Day Saints (LDS), of which Mormons are members, has criticized the show for misrepresenting their faith. 

TikTok’s Looming Ban in the United States

In April 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden signed the TikTok Ban Bill. To avoid the ban, ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, must divest itself of the app. Chinese-owned TikTok has until January 2025 to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese business entity. 

The looming ban follows a years-long sequence of privacy and security issues that have hounded the app. Over the years, TikTok has paid several fines for data breaches and misuse of user information. 

As the deadline for TikTok’s ownership transfer approaches, ByteDance remains adamant in its refusal to sell the app. Should the axe actually fall, TikTok is intent on taking legal action against the bill and the ban. According to TikTok, the bill amounts to government censorship and violates free speech. 

The app has 170 million American users, and the bill threatens the livelihood of countless creators and businesses in the country. The U.S. Congress cites national security risks as its top reason for passing the bill. 

It Doesn’t Always Take a Controversy To Go Viral on TikTok

You don’t want to be a one-hit-wonder — which is all too common on social media. You should also avoid being associated with controversial content. 

There are many ways to get maximum exposure and go viral on the video platform. You can achieve virality and lasting celebrity status with tried and tested strategies. 

A TikTok scandal may lead to viral status, but you can reach the same milestone without creating a controversy. Building a solid and engaged following is crucial in getting the numbers you need for overnight success. Signing up for a High Social plan can get you there faster!

High Social facilitates more connections between your posts and genuinely interested viewers with its advanced, proprietary AI targeting algorithm. Maximize your visibility on feeds and reach more users who will likely follow you and engage with your content.

Start growing your TikTok today!

TikTok 101