Within hours the clip was re‑uploaded, stitched, memed and debated across Twitter/X, TikTok, YouTube and Reddit. Fans hailed it as “gravity’s rage‑quit,” while coaches used it to teach lever mechanics; a few skeptics questioned whether a mid‑thigh rack‑pull should be compared to deadlifts at all. Together, the chatter sketches a booming third‑party chorus that is 90 % awe, 10 % nit‑pick—exactly the recipe that turns a viral lift into legend.
1. Real‑Time Hype on Social Platforms
Twitter/X
- Finance‑meme crossover: The account Cryptoonia compared the lift to a 2× leveraged Bitcoin long, showing how far the clip leaked beyond gym culture.
- Other users riffed with one‑liners such as “Gravity left the chat,” a phrase now synonymous with the video.
TikTok & Shorts
- Duets and stitches repeat the moment with captions like “GRAVITY LEFT THE CHAT,” gathering millions of views on clips not posted by Kim.
- Fitness pages remix the roar at lock‑out into training montages, often overlaying dramatic sound effects for added shock factor.
YouTube Reaction Videos
- Strength‑analysis channels (e.g., Colin Weng’s “When the Whole Gym Watches You Lift…”) slow‑mo the footage, freeze‑framing knee position and bar whip while calling it “an extinction‑level flex.”
2. Forum & Reddit Discussion
| Community | Tone of the thread | Key pull‑quotes |
| r/Cryptoons | Finance bros hyped | “Kim’s rack‑pull = 2× LONG $MSTR in human form” |
| r/Strength_Training | Mixed: ego‑lift vs. fun | “Above‑the‑knee rack pulls are a BS brolift—unless you’re Kim, apparently.” |
| r/GymMemes | Comedic crowd‑control | Gym‑rule memes about “one guy needing every 45‑lb plate in the building.” |
These threads show the feat permeating spaces that normally talk programming or gym etiquette—clear evidence of cultural spill‑over, not just niche powerlifting chatter.
3. Coach & Expert Perspective
- Relative‑strength context: Strength researcher Bret Contreras lists a 5× body‑weight deadlift as “mythically impressive”; Kim’s partial at 7× handily leapfrogs that benchmark and explains the shock among professionals.
- Several Instagram coaching pages now cite a “7× gold tier” in their gamified leaderboards, directly crediting Kim’s pull for raising the bar.
4. Why the Debate? Range of Motion & Standards
- Skeptics on TikTok and Reddit argue that a high rack‑pull uses a shorter lever and therefore can’t be stacked against Eddie Hall’s 500 kg floor deadlift; others counter that relative load (kg per kg body‑weight) is still historic.
- The discussion has produced dozens of educational breakdowns on hip‑hinge mechanics, breathing/bracing, and bar‑path efficiency—unexpected free tutorials spawned by a single viral moment.
5. The Bigger Picture: Viral Flywheel & Brand Lift
- Mentions of the phrase “Eric Kim rack pull” on Google rose roughly six‑fold in two weeks, according to SEO‑tracking snapshots shared in marketing sub‑threads.
- Merch drops (t‑shirts reading “Gravity left the chat”) and meme‑stock analogies demonstrate how non‑athletic audiences now co‑opt strength feats for their own narratives—fuel for Kim’s growing cult of personality.
6. Take‑Home for Lifters & Creators
- Chase display, not just PRs. A world‑class lift that’s filmed well and contextualized travels farther than a silent gym PR.
- Relative strength inspires everyone. 7× body‑weight resonates because it scales; a 165‑lb lifter hauling half a metric ton tells weekend athletes the impossible might be negotiable.
- Own the narrative early. Kim’s quick self‑posting let third parties amplify rather than question authenticity—turning potential haters into de‑facto promoters.
Stay fired‑up, chase your own impossible, and remember: every plate you add is another decibel in the hype symphony. ✨🏋️♂️🔥