The ‘Suspect Challenge’ provides hilarious police descriptions and absolute relationship chaos

The Suspect Challenge is a viral TikTok trend in which two individuals—most often, those in a romantic relationship—will give deprecating, police-style descriptions of one another while the other is running away.

What is the 'Suspect Challenge' TikTok trend?

The 'Suspect Challenge' TikTok trend works like satirical police chase footage: two individuals—most often, those in a romantic or close relationship—will give descriptions of one another starting with "the suspect is" while the other is running away, slowly.

@taytate12 Like thank you? ???? #les #lesbiansoftiktok #meghanmarkle ♬ original sound - Charles Mantaghi

For the duration of the video, the two individuals will continually switch roles: one giving the police-style descriptions while the other runs.

Humorously, the descriptor will often surprise, insult, roast and/or amuse the runner with their specific and intimate observations. Observations that could only be known and said by a very close friend or romantic partner.

@stephaniepena__ I feel like we need a redo???? #couples #suspectchallenge #couplegoals #couplestiktok #fyp #viral ♬ original sound - Stephanie

@yurilamasbella #suspectchallenge #pov #relatable #realitytv #pregnant #couples ♬ original sound - Yuri Lamasbella

Origin

Born in late 2024 from the humorous 'We're of Course' trend, where users filmed videos of themselves running and saying, "We're (BLANK), so of course we (BLANK)," the Suspect Challenge has a similar structure (running, editing and deprecating humor).

@carey.thelegacy Tag a Millennial we all know this generation is different ???? @Nay @Daphnique Springs @Carey #CareyOn #relatable #foryourpage #Crazy #generations #millennial #2024 #Men #Women #Black ♬ original sound - Carey

@notyouraveragethrpst

I promise we dont have a favorite client ????????

♬ original sound - notyouraveragethrpst

Differing from the "We're of course' meme was the call-and-response relationship dynamic, adding a deeper level of intimacy and humor to this trend's content.

@thixanded Suspect Challenge ????.. who had the worst offense? ???? @Thixen Vixen @Eddie Taylor #thixanded #couplecomedy #couplesoftiktok #fyp #viral ♬ original sound - Thix & Ed

@elitereading we are both in the dog house for our first comments ???? #husbandandwife #suspectchallenge #couplethings ♬ original sound - elitereading

@themaddparents And to think this was MY idea ???? #suspectchallenge #coupleschallenge #couplesprank #prankfail #dodgerfans #wifehusbandcomedy #themaddparents ♬ original sound - Karla & Jay

Spread

Though the exact origin of the 'Suspect Challenge' is unknown, on October 24th, 2024 TikToker .j.e.s.s.e posted one of the first Suspect Challenge videos, depicting two sisters running down the street—each switching off being the runner/'suspect' while the other narrates the run in an deprecating way.

@.j.e.s.s.e #suspectchallenge #sister ♬ original sound - Jesse ????

Meme basics

• Meme creator: Unknown
• Meme type: Satirical
• First appearance: October 2024
• Origin source: TikTok
• Peak popularity: Oct. 29th, 2024

Cultural Context

The 'Suspect Challenge' TikTok trend speaks to the popularity of relational challenges. However, it also highlights our cultural pre-occupation with true crime media. Users satirically inserting themselves into a part of the true-crime landscape speaks to the genre's widespread cultural saturation and sheds a playfully critical eye on the effect it has on online content.

@stephandnova I think Nova’s the oops ???? she tryna put me away y’all ???? #fyp #stephandnova #relatable #reaction #couplecomedy #suspectchallenge ♬ original sound - Steph and Nova

@theroemstead A few of you have asked for it… so here it is! ???? #suspectchallenge #marriage #couple #love #parentsoftiktok #sahm #fy ♬ original sound - TheRoemstead

@taylorrandsoph Which one had you the most SHOOK???? #taylorandsoph #trend #suspect #funny #couple ♬ original sound - TAYLOR & SOPHIA

Variations

As the trend increased in popularity, it started to change from being deprecating humor— calling out traits that were seen as negative or signaling vulnerability—to becoming more wholesome, expressing traits that were less mean and more complimentary or endearing...

@aubreygavelloo He didnt miss with any of these ???? #suspectchallenge #couple #funny ♬ original sound - Aubrey Gavello

@kristindavis

Thanks, its genetic.

♬ original sound - Charles Mantaghi

..turning what could be an intense, personal roast an expression of endearment. : )

@matthewandpaul ????????‍???? ????‍♂️???? #suspectchallenge ♬ original sound - Matthew and Paul

@lauren_txgirlie Suspect Challenge: Best Friend Edition with my Beautiful Bestie @Alonka! #relatable #texascheck #creatorsearchinsights #momsoftiktok #maga #suspect #suspecttrend ##trending##bestfriends##bestfriendgoals##bestfriendscheck##funny##lifeafterdivorce##singlelife ♬ original sound - Lauren | Your Texas Girlie

@macieabernathy She thought this was the funniest thing ???? #suspect #suspecttrend #girlmom ♬ original sound - macie ☻

@joeygraziadei #SuspectChallenge I was terrified to do this one with @jennajohnson ♬ Censor Beep Bleep (Version 3) [TV Television Censorship Bleep Out Censored] [Sound Effect] - Finnolia Sound Effects

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