What Is the “Holy Airball” Meme? Origins & Popular Videos

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Plus, learn about other viral TikTok trends

Co-authored by Raven Minyard, BA Reviewed by Candace Gasper

Last Updated: July 8, 2025 Fact Checked

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What is “holy airball”?

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Trend Origins

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Popular Videos

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Other TikTok Trends

Wait, you thought the term “airball” was only used in basketball? Holy freaking airball! This trend has gone viral on TikTok, as users post videos about times people made incorrect assumptions about or underestimated their accomplishments. Keep reading to learn what the “holy airball” trend is, how it started, and how even celebrities are getting in on the fun.

What does “holy airball” mean?

“Holy airball” is a TikTok slang phrase used when someone underestimates or makes an incorrect assumption about you. It comes from the basketball term “airball,” which refers to a shot that completely missed the basket. As slang, it means being totally wrong about something.

Section 1 of 4:

What is the “holy airball” TikTok trend?

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“Holy airball” means that someone was wildly incorrect about something. The phrase “holy airball” is mostly associated with the TikTok trend in which people share a fact about themselves, followed by an incorrect assumption or expectation from someone else. The video ends with a photo or clip showing what the user actually meant, alongside the caption “holy airball.”^{[1]
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- For example, someone might post a selfie with the caption, “I told them I like to sing, and they said, ‘What? Like in the shower?’” The video would then switch to a photo of them performing on stage with the caption “Holy airball.” This shows that the other person incorrectly assumed they just like to sing for fun, when in reality, they’re a professional.
- The phrase comes from the basketball term “airball,” which refers to a shot that completely missed the basket. In the context of the trend, the assumption made by the other person is an “airball” because it’s completely inaccurate.
- Each video in this trend is set to the song “Soul Survivor” by Jeezy.
- The trend is often used as a way for users to humble-brag about their accomplishments or connections.

Section 2 of 4:

Holy Airball Origins & Spread

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The earliest known use of “holy airball” was posted on Reddit in 2024. While the exact origins of the phrase are unknown, Redditor u/LiterallyError shared a post titled “Holy airball 😭” in the r/ZargoryanGalaksisi subreddit on August 13, 2024. The post contained a screenshot of an Instagram user attempting to flirt with another user, followed by an image of a man shooting a basketball at Earth from the moon.^{[2]
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- The term was likely derived from phrases like “holy cow.”
“Holy airball” continued gaining traction throughout 2024, and on December 8th, 2024, TikToker @jerkxyita posted an edit captioned “holy air ball” that shows a boy pulling a girl in for a kiss and getting rejected by her, with videos of basketball players making airballs in between the clips. The post earned over 4.6 million views in 5 months.^{[3]
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The “holy airball” trend took off in May 2025. In May 2025, TikTok users began posting videos set to Jeezy’s “Soul Survivor,” in which they share anecdotes about times when someone “missed a shot” and incorrectly assumed something about them. Some of the earliest versions of the meme are about cars, though it has been used in a variety of contexts.^{[4]
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- For instance, a post by user @vqpanther shows a photo of him with the caption "Told her I drive a Toyota and she asked if it was a Supra or a Tundra," followed by a photo of his Prius, captioned, "#holyfreakingairball."

Section 3 of 4:

Popular “Holy Airball” TikTok Videos

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Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe’s daughter Ava Phillippe got in on the fun when she posted a TikTok slideshow about her mother’s role in Legally Blonde. The post begins with a photo of Phillippe captioned, “I told him my mom’s a lawyer.” The next slide is a photo of Witherspoon and a young Phillippe with the caption, “He said, ‘Oh, what firm does she work at?’” The final three slides are images of Witherspoon as Elle Woods captioned “holy,” “freaking,” and “airball” respectively.^{[5]
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In Gordon Ramsay’s popular TikTok video, the renowned chef shared photos of himself with the caption “Told them ‘I like to cook.’ They said, ‘What? Like sheet pan meals?’” The video then shows a photo of Ramsay standing in front of his Las Vegas restaurant with the caption, “Holy airball.”
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Julianne Hough Professional dancer Julianne Hough participated in the trend by sharing a video that starts with a selfie and the caption, “Told him I liked to dance.” It then transitions to a photo of her as a child with the caption, “He said, ‘Oh, cute. As a kid?’” Finally, the video shows clips of Hough competing on Dancing with the Stars with the caption, “#HolyAirball.”

Section 4 of 4:

Other TikTok Trends

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My Shayla “My Shayla” is a popular TikTok trend used to call someone or something cute or to humorously express love even though you’re annoyed or upset. Some users also share videos or pictures expressing their sadness or heartbreak. The sound comes from a video of R&B singer and actor Tyrese Gibson tearfully saying, “Oh my god, my Shayla.”^{[6]
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- For example, a post may include the “My Shayla” sound alongside a picture of a dog. The caption might say, “When I get mad at her, but remember who I’m talking to.” The next photo would be a picture of the dog as a puppy.
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Bombastic Side Eye “Bombastic side eye” is a popular slang phrase that refers to giving someone a dirty look out of judgment or disgust. It comes from a viral audio of a woman saying, “Bombastic side eye, criminal offensive side eye,” in response to a text she received.^{[7]
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- For example, a video using the audio might say, “When your friend says she can fix him,” meaning the user is judging their friend for their decision.
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Very Mindful, Very Demure “Very mindful, very demure” is a popular TikTok audio that originated from influencer Jools Lebron saying the phrase while getting ready for work. The audio is often used ironically, as users point out all the ways they aren’t mindful or demure.^{[8]
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- For example, influencer Haley Kalil used the term in a cheeky TikTok about how to block your ex.
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Hear Me Out Cake “Hear me out” cakes are a popular TikTok trend in which people share their unconventional or controversial crushes on cartoons, characters, and celebrities by printing out pictures of them and putting them on a cake. The idea is that the crushes shouldn’t be conventionally attractive and that the person would say “Hear me out” and explain why they like them.^{[9]
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- For example, some popular “hear me out” characters might include Shrek or Nick Wilde (from Zootopia).
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He’s a 10, but… The “He’s a 10, but…” trend in which people ask their friends to rate imaginary partners based on highly specific character traits. The idea is that the partner in question would be a 10 except for this trait, so the person playing the game would have to choose a new rating based on how they feel.^{[10]
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- For example, some popular “He’s a 10, but…” scenarios might be “He’s a 10, but he eats pizza with a fork,” or “He’s a 10, but he claps when the plane lands.”