Man’s reaction to surprise birthday party goes viral on TikTok as he’s dubbed the ‘new couch guy’

A man’s reaction — or lack thereof — to a surprise birthday party organised by his girlfriend has led to him being compared to the app’s infamous “couch guy”.

“Couch guy” refers to a college student who, when surprised by his girlfriend showing up at his dorm, reacted in a way that some viewers felt was off.

Now, the second incarnation is here.

In a video uploaded by TikToker Sydni Arnett, her boyfriend Michael can be seen apprehensively showing up to his surprise Mike-themed 30th birthday party.

He tentatively walks across the room clutching a red cup as his friends cheer. He smiles as he approaches all of his friends sitting on a couch before taking a swig of his drink.

Syndi then skips out in a Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc onesie and gives him a hug. The pair exchange words before she shows him the hood of her playsuit.

Since it was uploaded earlier this month, the video has garnered over 9.7 million views and 1.6 million likes. And viewers did not hold back in the comment section.

One of the top comments, with over 340,000 likes reads: “Omg that gives me ‘I was gonna break up with her this week and now I can’t’.”

Another said: “Babe wake up, new couch guy just dropped” with a different viewer remarking: “This guy walked so couch guy could slowly stand up.”

Comedian and TikToker Caitlin Reilly wrote: “WE HAVE A NEW COUCH GUY.”

“This is giving me ‘4 months into dating and she’s way more into it than him’ vibes,” one user commented.

Another TikTok user said: “This is how I’d walk into a surprise party I specifically said I didn’t want.”

As the same audio was used in the original couch guy video, some are convinced the Ellie Goulding song Still Falling For You is “cursed”.

Content creator Gwizzle, who has 3.6 million followers on the app, came to his defence.

She wrote: “Ok ok ok BUT what if he just hates surprises and it overwhelms him because that happens to me… let’s not couch guy him just yet.”

Another user said: “Maybe he’s just awkward. Man, TikTok comment sections are so negative and toxic. Let people be and stop showing thoughts into other’s heads.”

In a follow-up video, she shared a clip with the same audio showing the pair shotgunning beers with their friends.

A few days later she uploaded another video showing loved-up pictures of the pair with the on-screen text: “Since people wanna see us perform PDA [public displays of affection].”

One of the top comments reads: “It’s giving ‘see we’re happy! I can prove it’ lmao.”

Another TikToker wrote: “Ya’ll have this idea that everyone’s reaction has to be so grand and over the top when in reality everyone is not like that.”

Poking fun at the fact Michael was cradling a red cup during the original video, she uploaded another TikTok with the on-screen text: “Might fk around and be a red solo cup for Halloween so my bf will kiss me.”

Responding to one of the comments on the surprise video that asked if he knows her, she posted another video miming Kris Jenner saying: “You are a little nosy Nelly over here”.

Although some shared the couch guy comparisons in jest, it seems the TikTok Bureau of Investigation couldn’t resist taking up another case.

So, if you see detailed body language analysis videos of a bewildered man at a birthday party on your TikTok homepage, now you’ll know why.