As Seen on TikTok: Our Favorite Reads
TikTok’s rapid ascent introduced us to a surprising cast of quirky characters, like the grave cleaner who reveals not just sparkling tombstones but the personal stories they tell, the creepy tree lady who got famous and lost her head, and the new ways some modern American celebrities pronounce the letter “R.” While many feeds showcase viral dances and trending stunts, we’re drawn to the app’s quirkier corners of culinary monsters, linguistic deep dives, and historical sandwiches. The ‘Crispy R’ and Why R Is the Weirdest Letter By Dan Nosowitz The letter “R” has more pronunciations than you think. The “crispy R,” in particular, is used by some modern American celebrities, including Kourtney Kardashian and New Girl’s Max Greenfield. In this story, linguists across the country share their analysis of the phenomenon. How a Grave Cleaner Uncovers the Past By Sam O’Brien While many people go viral for trending dances and stunts, Alicia Williams followed a different path to fame. Her niche? Cleaning up stranger’s gravestones and sharing their stories long obscured by dirt and grime. Gloriously Gruesome Confections for Halloween–and the Rest of the Year By Anne Ewbank On Valentine’s Day in 2021, food artist Nikk Alcaraz whipped up something special. At the center of his heart-shaped apple pastries sat a wide-open human eye staring straight ahead. “The apple of my eye,” as he called them, earned him fame on TikTok, where he still shares his impressively freaky confectionary creations. Meet the Man Reviewing Historical Sandwiches on TikTok By Diana Hubbell Sandwiches of History is a TikTok account dedicated to one man’s reviews of sandwich recipes from the past. Some are surprisingly good, like a French pan bagnat that requires two days to make. Others earn less favorable reviews, such as the mashed anchovy sandwich, which he refers to as a “salt lick.” The Charming True Story of the Haunting ‘Lady in the Tree’ By Roxanne Hoorn Every fall along Newfoundland’s southern coast, the Miawpukek First Nation community in Conne River welcomes back a frightening figure. A contorted and strikingly human-like figure, named “The Lady in the Tree,” brought unprecedented attention to the small community when a local’s video of her went viral on TikTok. The Modern Resurrection of the Dybbuk, Demon of Jewish Folklore By Anya Gruber In 2003, a man in Portland, Oregon, posted a strange listing to eBay. He was selling a small wood piece of decor, but warned it wouldn’t come alone. It was possessed by a powerful demon known as a Dybbuk—rooted in centuries-old Jewish folklore—who had been tormenting him. After nearly two decades of media attention, the man admitted it was all a hoax. A related trend sprung up online, with waves of people “exposing” and “debunking” so-called Dybbuk boxes across TikTok.
TikTok’s rapid ascent introduced us to a surprising cast of quirky characters, like the grave cleaner who reveals not just sparkling tombstones but the personal stories they tell, the creepy tree lady who got famous and lost her head, and the new ways some modern American celebrities pronounce the letter “R.” While many feeds showcase viral dances and trending stunts, we’re drawn to the app’s quirkier corners of culinary monsters, linguistic deep dives, and historical sandwiches.
The ‘Crispy R’ and Why R Is the Weirdest Letter
By Dan Nosowitz
The letter “R” has more pronunciations than you think. The “crispy R,” in particular, is used by some modern American celebrities, including Kourtney Kardashian and New Girl’s Max Greenfield. In this story, linguists across the country share their analysis of the phenomenon.
How a Grave Cleaner Uncovers the Past
By Sam O’Brien
While many people go viral for trending dances and stunts, Alicia Williams followed a different path to fame. Her niche? Cleaning up stranger’s gravestones and sharing their stories long obscured by dirt and grime.
Gloriously Gruesome Confections for Halloween–and the Rest of the Year
By Anne Ewbank
On Valentine’s Day in 2021, food artist Nikk Alcaraz whipped up something special. At the center of his heart-shaped apple pastries sat a wide-open human eye staring straight ahead. “The apple of my eye,” as he called them, earned him fame on TikTok, where he still shares his impressively freaky confectionary creations.
Meet the Man Reviewing Historical Sandwiches on TikTok
By Diana Hubbell
Sandwiches of History is a TikTok account dedicated to one man’s reviews of sandwich recipes from the past. Some are surprisingly good, like a French pan bagnat that requires two days to make. Others earn less favorable reviews, such as the mashed anchovy sandwich, which he refers to as a “salt lick.”
The Charming True Story of the Haunting ‘Lady in the Tree’
By Roxanne Hoorn
Every fall along Newfoundland’s southern coast, the Miawpukek First Nation community in Conne River welcomes back a frightening figure. A contorted and strikingly human-like figure, named “The Lady in the Tree,” brought unprecedented attention to the small community when a local’s video of her went viral on TikTok.
The Modern Resurrection of the Dybbuk, Demon of Jewish Folklore
By Anya Gruber
In 2003, a man in Portland, Oregon, posted a strange listing to eBay. He was selling a small wood piece of decor, but warned it wouldn’t come alone. It was possessed by a powerful demon known as a Dybbuk—rooted in centuries-old Jewish folklore—who had been tormenting him. After nearly two decades of media attention, the man admitted it was all a hoax. A related trend sprung up online, with waves of people “exposing” and “debunking” so-called Dybbuk boxes across TikTok.
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