...
By Rachael O'Connor
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Some internet users have admitted feeling guilt as the origin of a famous TikTok sound was revealed as being from a heartbreaking real-life video.
If you've perused TikTok lately, you'll likely have heard the sound—an upset man calling out "my Shayla," often over a lighthearted video of a cute pet, or a story about missing a friend who lives far away.
But viral videos have now pointed out the origin to this sound, and some users have admitted to being deflated and feeling bad for laughing at it.
Read More on On the Internet
The sound originates from an emotional video from actor Tyrese Gibson uploaded to his social media during a custody battle for his daughter, Shayla, in 2017.
A clip was recently uploaded to TikTok by Destiny Lawson on her account @dessycvs9n9 which has almost 18 million views, showing Gibson, wearing a hoodie with the words Shayla Rocks, and tearfully pleading: "Don't take my baby, please don't take my baby."
Lawson wrote across the video: "The 'My Shayla' sound being from Tyrese BEGGING on IG live to see his daughter is actually so sad."
And TikTok users responded in a massive way, with the video racking up over 2 million likes and thousands of comments, one writing: "Why is everyone laughing the context is actually so sad."
"Who made this a meme omg [oh my God]. I feel so sad now," another said, while one agreed: "To us who just found out, we're sorry."
And as one summed it up: "That's actually so sad."
Speaking to Newsweek, Lawson said: "I honestly thought that people knew the origin of the sound as Tyrese Gibson is a well-known figure. I remember watching the live so long ago and found it funny how it become so popular years later!"
But, after posting the video, Lawson quickly learned that "it seems I was mistaken as a lot of people have only just found out about the origin through my video.
"I was really surprised at the reaction it got from the public but I'm happy people understand the actual story behind it and are so interested in where Tyrese and his daughter Shayla are now."
While some expressed feeling bad about the viral sound, others declared they still found it funny—and Fast & Furious star Gibson himself has since been referencing the meme in a humorous way.
In photos shared to his Instagram account, @tyrese, on January 5, he showed him and his daughter on vacation together, and captioned it: "#DaddyDaughter Vacation with #MyShayla."
A video posted on the same day showed Shayla relaxing in a hotel room by the pool, as Gibson addressed fans: "For those of you who are asking … lol [laugh out loud] #MyShayla is goooooochi! This is why daddy works as hard as I do."
And in a clip from January 1, the father and daughter laugh about the meme together, with Gibson calling it a "classic one liner."
He then pans the camera to his daughter and says: "My Shayla is right here."
The custody battle for Shayla, born in 2007 to Gibson and his ex-wife Norma Mitchell Gibson, came to an end in November 2017, with both parents being granted 50/50 custody of the then-10-year-old.
Following the ruling, he wrote on Instagram that the result was "a win, because [Shayla] gets to spend equal time with both of her parents in joint legal custody while she continues to grow in a happy and healthy environment," according to an article from People at the time.
Newsweek has contacted reps for Tyrese Gibson for comment on this story.
Update: 1/17/25, 12:30 ET: This story has been updated to include comment from Destiny Lawson.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines