Prepare to laugh out loud at a video shared by a mom whose disastrous trip to a play area has racked up over 9 million views on TikTok.
When Tiffany McKinley, 27, agreed to join her daughters in the soft play facility, she never expected to become an internet sensation.
McKinley, from Houston, Texas, was at the top of the indoor climbing frame before she dramatically fell through not one, not two, but five nets in front of the whole venue. If that wasn’t bad enough, McKinley’s wig also got lost in the process.
She told Newsweek: “When I felt my head and realized it was off—I was slightly embarrassed!”
TikTok/@tee.alexisss
The aspiring content creator explained that she was reluctant to go inside the play area.
“My boyfriend dared me to go up, my first response to him was ‘no, my wig is not glued down.’ He was just like ‘just go do it—it will be funny,'” she said.
“I wasn’t 100 percent confident. My intrusive thoughts won for sure.”
The text layered over the hysterical footage insinuates she knew something bad was going to happen.
“Thankfully, nobody laughed in my face or stared at me. Don’t get me wrong everyone did laugh but it wasn’t too harsh and didn’t make me uncomfortable,” she said.
“Everything happened so fast—it was like an ‘oops!’ moment.”
At first, she was in two minds about posting the video to her account (@tee.alexisss) but now she has managed to see the funny side of things.
“I am still recovering from the soreness,” she said. “At first I was mad because nothing like this has never happened to me, especially in public and with an audience.”
McKinley has been praised online by thousands of users who are glad she posted the clip.
“Even though it was embarrassing—I feel good knowing that I have made people laugh or made their day.”
Tiffany McKinley
At the time of writing, the video, shared on April 9, has received 951,000 likes and 7,960 comments.
One user said: “WIG SAID, ‘I’LL MEET YOU BACK AT THE HOUSE.'”
Another comment with over 55,000 likes said: “I would’ve grabbed my wig and ran off into the darkness. never to be seen again.”
“Now why would [you] jump feet first,” asked a third commenter.
A fourth commenter said: “Yo i just blinked and you fell ?? How.”
While this mom’s experience didn’t go to plan. Play is a vital component of both children’s and adults’ lives, according to neuroscientists, educators, and psychologists. Newsweek has previously spoken to a bunch of experts who explained the importance of play as adults as it’s easy to get caught up in an “all work and no play” lifestyle.
Dr. Stuart Brown, a psychiatrist and founder of the National Institute of Play, a nonprofit designed to advance the appreciation and application of play, suggests taking time out for self-reflection.
Americans, he says, “should look at a picture of themselves from as early as they can in their life and say, ‘who is that person? What gave me joy, what gave me a sense of glee? Can I hook that up to something in my life now? Did I pick good friends? Do I really like the job I have?'”
“Think of the last time you had a really fun time or a good belly laugh and how you felt afterwards,” he says. “You have a different mood, a different sense of yourself.” Have you felt that lately? If not, Brown suggests, maybe it’s time to make a change.
If you have a family dilemma, let us know via [email protected]. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.