When TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew appeared before Congress to testify about the company’s handling of user data, he probably wasn’t expecting that he’d be the latest trend on his own app.
But Chew put in such a strong performance in the hearing that he was treated to the highest honor an amateur video editor can bestow on someone: the fancam.
Nothing in 2023 had me prepared for tiktok simping for the Tiktok CEO pic.twitter.com/FM4zyEhJW2
— The Viscount Bukit Panjang (@theViscountBP) March 24, 2023
Chew has become the focus of several viral TikToks, which show the highlights of his performances in the congressional hearing, as well as a mix of other footage he posted himself before speaking to politicians.
Chew has received lots of support from users on both TikTok and Twitter, who saw his treatment during the five-hour testimony as unfair and deliberately malicious.
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BREAKING: The American TikTok crowd has spoken. They're calling TikTok CEO a hero for fighting to keep their favorite app from being banned by a bunch of tech-inept old farts who are being lobbied by Facebook. pic.twitter.com/Kau5HFNTed
— Yes, it's me (@ElysiusThor) March 25, 2023
Several Congress members seemed unfamiliar with the basic mechanics of TikTok’s business model, with one particularly odd encounter revolving around whether or not TikTok could connect to home WiFi.
One user compared Chew’s performance to that of Mark Zuckerberg, who attended a similar testimony on data management a few years ago.
Nah fam there’s so many CEO Tiktok simping videos out there Hhahahaha he’s winning this public perception war 😂😂 Mark Zuckerberg could never 😂 pic.twitter.com/fDVR8LGilc
— Muaz Mohd 🧣 (@MuazMohd94) March 25, 2023