My Shayla Meme: Meaning, Origin, And Emotional Backstory
The My Shayla meme took over TikTok in 2024, driven by a heart-wrenching soundbite that mixes emotion, nostalgia, and absurdity. The meaning of the My Shayla meme revolves around exaggerated sadness or emotional reactions. It’s often used in humorous contexts where the feeling is over-the-top but oddly relatable.
The audio clip—”Oh my God, my Shayla!”—comes from a viral 2017 video of actor Tyrese Gibson.
The meme’s origin goes back to a custody battle between Tyrese and his ex-wife, where he broke down crying on camera pleading for his daughter, Shayla. The moment was raw, real—and eventually turned into a viral sound.
On TikTok, creators have paired the audio with posts about lost pets, old memories, forgotten lunches, or pure Gen Z-style absurdity. Scroll down to see how a father’s grief became a meme of mass emotion.
What Is the My Shayla Meme?
The My Shayla meme is based on a 2017 video in which actor Tyrese Gibson breaks down emotionally during a custody dispute. In the clip, he sobs and shouts, “Oh my God, my Shayla!”
That single moment—both devastating and deeply human—has been clipped and reused as a viral sound on TikTok. It’s usually paired with captions that either match the sincerity or flip it into comedic irony.
The sound is now used as shorthand for exaggerated emotional responses. Whether it’s losing your AirPods or finding an old childhood toy, the meme captures the drama of everyday heartbreak.
Where Did the My Shayla Meme Come From?
The My Shayla meme originates from a deeply emotional Facebook livestream posted by actor and singer Tyrese Gibson on November 1st 2017, amid a contentious custody battle for his then 10-year-old daughter, Shayla with his ex-wife, Norma Mitchell.
The original video, titled Crying Tyrese, was deleted but later reposted by YouTuber Lailah Lynn Media and spread across Reddit and Instagram.
In the video, Gibson tearfully pleads, “Don’t take my baby, please don’t take my baby, okay?” and later, the iconic scream: “Oh my God, my Shayla.” The clip quickly became a reaction meme and was widely used in image macros with captions like “What more do you want from me?”
Following its 2017 upload, the video of Tyrese Gibson crying was widely repurposed into image macros and reaction memes on platforms like Instagram and Reddit, often centered around the catchphrase “What more do you want from me?”.
Although Tyrese originated the emotional footage, the identity of the first user to transform it into a meme remains unknown, reflecting the anonymity typical of viral internet culture, where attribution frequently disappears as content spreads across digital spaces.
By 2024, the specific “My Shayla” moment went viral on TikTok. A user named @dessycvs9n9 posted the clip with a relatable caption “there have been too many trending sounds from this one live omg”. The clip recently has almost 18 million views. This launched a new wave of meme use across the platform.
@dessycvs9n9 there have been too many trending sounds from this one live omg #tyrese #trendingsound #funnyy ♬ original sound – georgiapeach🧚🏾♀️
The Deeper Meaning: Humor, Irony, and Digital Culture
At its core, the My Shayla meme shows how real pain can become communal catharsis—or comedy—online. Internet culture has a way of reframing trauma into entertainment.
Some TikTok users celebrate the sound’s relatability. Others express discomfort, noting how quickly the internet turned a father’s breakdown into viral content.
It also reflects Gen Z’s tendency to deal with emotion through memes. Whether coping or laughing, the line between empathy and mockery is razor thin.
My Shayla Meme Evolution: Variations and Spin-Offs
While the core of the My Shayla meme is audio-based, it’s inspired plenty of formats: My Shayla but make it anime, Low-effort reaction memes, Mashups with other viral sounds, Memes with fake subtitles.
The variants are listed below:
- “My Shayla but make it anime”: Edited over dramatic anime scenes
- Low-effort reaction memes: A static image with text overlay using the quote
- Mashups with other viral sounds: Blending Tyrese’s scream with unrelated TikTok audio
- Memes with fake subtitles: Altering the line to fit absurd situations (e.g., “My lasagna!”)
These variations extend the meme’s reach, turning a single emotional cry into a multimedia punchline.
Conclusion
The My Shayla meme is rooted in a 2017 video of Tyrese Gibson’s emotional breakdown during a custody battle, where he cried out, “Oh my God, my Shayla.” Though the original moment was deeply personal, it was quickly repurposed into memes and image macros across Reddit and Instagram.
Online, the meme is used to express everyday frustrations, nostalgia, and absurd situations—with humor often layered over sincerity. It fits perfectly into Gen Z’s culture of ironic emotional expression.
With spin-offs like anime edits, fake subtitles, and mashups with other sounds, the My Shayla meme has cemented itself as a versatile digital format. From trauma to TikTok trend, it captures how internet culture reshapes raw moments into viral storytelling.
