What is the meaning of Shayla on TikTok? Words trend on X as users mourn app shutdown

On January 19, 2025, the term My Shayla began to trend on X after TikTok went dark online, enacting the law banning the app in the United States. The term was shared by TikTokers on X while mourning the loss of the beloved social media app. A grieving social media user wrote:

Another user added:

“TIKTOK WAS JUST REMOVED FROM THE APP STORE NOOOO MY SHAYLA”

At the time of writing this story, there are over 25,000 posts that include the term. However, as the term began to trend on X, a few confused netizens wondered why TikTokers were centering the grieving posts around the word.

A netizen wrote:

“I'm still trying to figure out where the "my Shayla" meme started bc I still don't get it.”

While some embraced the trend others seemed outright confused by it. Here’s what we know.

The trend took off on TikTok last week when TikTokers centered their videos around the sound bite. They seemingly used the phrase to express regret over the loss of something, such as an entity or an individual. The term originated from the 2017 emotional video, in which visibly upset singer and actor Tyrese expressed his grief amid his daughter Shayla's custody battle.

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Tyrese Gibson's 2017 "My Shayla" video explored as the term trends on X amid TikTok ban

In 2017, actor Tyrese went online and posted an emotional video where he appeared distraught over the ongoing custody battle with ex-Norma Mitchell Gibson. Gibson, who was wearing a sweatshirt with the words “Shayla Rocks” strewn across the front, was seen crying as he pleaded with his ex, saying:

"Don't take my baby, please don't take my baby.”

Tyrese revealed he was paying $13,000 in child support, adding:

“What more do you want from me?”

He then began to wail:

“My Shayla, My Shayla,” over the possibility of losing custody of his beloved daughter.

Last week, when TikTok co-opted the word to express regret over a loss, the term went viral online, prompting Tyrese to respond.

In a video last week, a seemingly embarrassed Tyrese, who was with his daughter, quipped:

“All over TikTok...Congratulations. What more do you want from me? He added, “Some classic one-liners.”

Tyrese revealed his daughter, who went viral, was heading on a daddy-daughter vacation.

In the wake of TikTok shutting down online, TikTokers are expressing their devastation online with the term, seemingly to capture the intensity of the loss with a word.