TikTok trends are always coming and going and right now the latest trend going on is the “I’m Sorry” trend, which goes along with a cover of the song “Sorry” by Justin Bieber.
People have been posting themselves lip-syncing the lyrics “I’m sorry” while having a prompt in their videos that says things that their exes have told them that they have apologized for.
An example of one of the prompts would be like “Me saying sorry to my ex because I didn’t go to sleep at the bedtime he assigned me.” Another one would say “Me apologizing to my ex because I wanted to hang out with my friends.”
The cover they are lip-syncing to is by Jonatanas Kazlauskas, who has become a meme from his version of the song while performing on the X-Factor. He is now known as the “I’m sorry guy.”
The People Pleaser
Looking at this trend, it shows a lot about how there can be underlying emotional insecurity in relationships.
When someone is in a relationship, it is normal to want to avoid conflict. This is where the “people pleaser” comes in. This person apologizes for everything: a dirty dish not being washed, a bed not being made, canceling plans last minute, etc. They do it as self-protection; rather than getting into a potential argument, they try to keep the peace.
It is common to think that couples who don’t fight are “perfect” or “soulmates.” This is simply untrue. While arguing all the time can be a sign of a failing relationship, not fighting at all can lead to many unresolved disputes that continue to resurface. It’s best to talk things out and figure out a solution in the moment rather than let resentment build up.
The Male Manipulator
In relationships, be sure to watch out for “control” disguised as a form of caring. In the trend circulating on TikTok, people are discussing how easy it can be to mistake genuine concern for the real truth, a male manipulator.
These “monitoring” actions from your partner may make you feel held back or less than, this is not how a healthy relationship functions. If a partner has anxiety about the relationship, it is best to talk about it, rather than let it manifest into what can be described as “toxic.”
Let It All Out
It’s best to talk about problems, like the one listed above, with your partner in hopes that you both can resolve and understand what the deeper issue at hand is. The longer you wait to talk about serious problems, the longer it takes to get them resolved.
Relationships are two people coming together with their own lifestyles and trying to fit together, sort of like a puzzle piece. You should not change who you are just for your partner. Sometimes, the piece does not fit and that’s okay.
Have you seen this trend on TikTok? Do you have any weird things you had to apologize for in your relationships? Let us know @VALLEYmag on X!
I really appreciated how you unpacked what an apology actually means and why timing and sincerity matter so much. It made me reflect on how often we avoid saying sorry not because we don’t feel it, but because we don’t know how. Thanks for breaking it down with real insight — definitely gave me something to think about!