Taye Diggs' TikTok is chaotic comedy gold, just ask the internet

Taye Diggs.
Some people were just born to entertain. Taye Diggs is one of those people.
Diggs has graced Broadway stages, the silver screen and our television sets. Now he’s found a new platform: TikTok. And let me tell you, this man has got it, whatever “it” is.
You want pure comedy? He delivers. You want weird? He’s got that too. Diggs is already serving up plenty of entertaining content, ranging from driving selfies to dance clips to songs about putting fish in the microwave. Yup, it’s a one-stop TikTok shop.
Having only joined the app this week, Diggs hasn’t quite figured everything out, like how to use TikTok sound effects. But who needs it when you can just make your own? You could say the actor is going for a no-frills approach—his videos are without transitions, effects, filters … or planning, apparently.
As one person wrote on Twitter, the entire account is “pure chaos and comedy.”
Diggs is most famous for playing calm, cool, collected (and utterly smooth) roles like Benny in "Rent" and Harper in "The Best Man." Which is in part why fans are eating up his goofy schtick and silly TikTok antics.
Case in point: his “ICON trying….” video where he attempts—and fails—to recreate some of those influencer-worthy flashy transitions. What we get instead is a roller-coaster ride of clumsy shots (at one point he’s upside down and putting on a hat?), some gibberish lyrics, and all the while Diggs sporting a highly appropriate “DAD” sweatshirt. It’s nothing short of hilarious.
ICON trying…. pic.twitter.com/eO74eOnxVq
— Taye Diggs (@TayeDiggs) December 10, 2021
Nothing says "cool" quite like stomping on your phone, am I right?
I mean, just take a look at some of his greatest hits...
Like when he was on set for "All American" and tried to get Kareem Grimes to dance with him.
@tiktoktaye♬ original sound - Taye Diggs
Grimes would not budge. Well, at least until the very end.
Or laughing at himself in the car. Literally.
@tiktoktaye♬ original sound - Taye Diggs
Totally fine if you're not entertained. Taye Diggs is happy just making himself laugh.
Or his "jerk, jerk jerk" dance.
@tiktoktaye JERK?
♬ original sound - Taye Diggs
Reminding us all the "everybody's a jerk, jerk, jerk."
Now that Diggs has has begun cross-posting some of the gold onto Twitter, the reactions are growing tenfold.
Some are calling for a "Taye Diggs TikTok timeout."
I really want somebody to take Taye Diggs' phone away😭😭 pic.twitter.com/2faGJo2O3r
— Zulu.1920 (@Yatande_) December 14, 2021
Who let taye diggs on tiktok I’m cryinggggg
— Aishwarya Rai (@lovea__) December 15, 2021
This poor person was brought to tears.
they should’ve never given Taye Diggs a tiktok 😭 https://t.co/elCkjjUPc1
— jaeden ✨💕 (@whitleygwayne) December 14, 2021
Though most just wanted to praise him and get a taste of that secret sauce.
Taye Diggs hasn’t figured out how to add music to his TikTok’s yet, but I’ll take two of whatever he’s sipping 😭 Good morning #clique! ☀️ pic.twitter.com/GOiHpuvr8k
— Onsite! Tv (@Its_Onsite) December 15, 2021
I wanna be taye diggs when I’m older
— Iyosias (@whitest_injera) December 15, 2021
No one has enough Taye Diggs in their life, so you're welcome. https://t.co/aup0pwB9zK
— OG McDuck (@OG_McDuck) December 8, 2021
Feel like I would get along with Taye Diggs cuz he really don’t be giving a damn just expressing himself without a care in the world lol. Love it https://t.co/aubsq1I9P2
— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) December 13, 2021
He might have even converted a few former non-Tokkers.
Me and the other 40 year olds on our way to join tiktok for more taye diggs pic.twitter.com/CeduuuuXWX
— hug a pit bull 🐶 (@limaretto) December 15, 2021
I only downloaded Tik Tok because of Taye Diggs that man have me crying
— King B✊✊Z🤙🇭🇹 (@ZoeBeezy6) December 15, 2021
Another poor soul overcome with emotion at Diggs' shenanigans.
Love it, @TayeDiggs you maybe the reason I get a #TikTok 😂
— AnimeGirl (@darkdzyerz) December 15, 2021
Some were feeling a certain … comradery … with Mr. Diggs.
Taye diggs’ tiktok is literally what its like for me living alone😂😂
— Black lives still matter!!! (@gabbacchino) December 14, 2021
i’m laughing with Taye Diggs not at him cause he doing what i do when i’m alone😭😭
— maybe: janeā 🎄 (@byeeitsjanea) December 15, 2021
The general consensus? Taye Diggs + TikTok = the best kind of chaos.
taye diggs’ tiktok is chaotic but in a good way lmfaoo
— miriam (@meryyy____) December 15, 2021
If you want fulfilment in life, then follow Taye Diggs on TikTok. He is truly unhinged
— michaela coel's doppelgänger (@shopsonarampage) December 15, 2021
Taye Diggs is a different type of chaotic on TikTok 😭 that man is so nutty.
— Chellz (@b0mbchell_) December 15, 2021
Nicole Byer and Taye Diggs to Host the 27th Critics Choice Awards https://t.co/Wk0D2YjiLM pic.twitter.com/gG0cUXmtsJ
— Black Girl Nerds (@BlackGirlNerds) December 12, 2021
Now that you've made it this far down the Taye-Diggs-TikTok-rabbit hole, you might be feeling like you just can't get enough of the online discord. Don't fret, you're in luck!
Diggs will be hosting the 27th Annual Critic's Choice Awards on Jan 9, 2022 alongside the equally hilarious Nicole Byer. It's sure to be a riot.
And then of course, you can always follow @theofficialtayediggs on TikTok. If you're brave enough.
- Epic 'Bridgerton' musical—made entirely on TikTok—has scored a ... ›
- My mixed daughter was told it's 'weird' that I have dark skin. This is ... ›
- Taye Diggs doesn't mince words when he talks about the race of his ... ›
There's a reason why some people can perfectly copy accents, and others can't
Turns out, there's a neurodivergent link.
A woman in black long sleeve shirt stands in front of mirror.
Have you ever had that friend who goes on vacation for four days to London and comes back with a full-on Queen's English posh accent? "Oooh I left my brolly in the loo," they say, and you respond, "But you're from Colorado!" Well, there are reasons they (and many of us) do that, and usually it's on a pretty subconscious level.
It's called "accent mirroring," and it's actually quite common with people who are neurodivergent, particularly those with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). According Neurolaunch, the self-described "Free Mental Health Library," "Accent mirroring, also known as accent adaptation or phonetic convergence, is the tendency to unconsciously adopt the accent or speech patterns of those around us. This linguistic chameleon effect is not unique to individuals with ADHD, but it appears to be more pronounced and frequent in this population."
Essentially, when people have conversations, we're constantly "scanning" for information—not just the words we're absorbing, but the inflection and tone. "When we hear an accent, our brains automatically analyze and categorize the phonetic features, prosody, and intonation patterns," writes Neurolaunch. For most, this does result in copying the accent of the person with whom we're speaking. But those with ADHD might be more sensitive to auditory cues. This, "coupled with a reduced ability to filter out or inhibit the impulse to mimic…could potentially explain the increased tendency for accent mirroring."
While the article explains further research is needed, they distinctly state that, "Accent mirroring in individuals with ADHD often manifests as an unconscious mimicry of accents in social situations. This can range from subtle shifts in pronunciation to more noticeable changes in intonation and speech rhythm. For example, a person with ADHD might find themselves unconsciously adopting a Southern drawl when conversing with someone from Texas, even if they’ve never lived in the South themselves."
People are having their say online. On the subreddit r/ADHDWomen, a thread began: "Taking on accents is an ADHD thing?" The OP shares, "My whole life, I've picked up accents. I, myself, never noticed, but everyone around me would be like, 'Why are you talking like that??' It could be after I watched a show or movie with an accent or after I've traveled somewhere with a different accent than my 'normal.'
They continue, "Apparently, I pick it up fast, but it fades out slowly. Today... I'm scrolling Instagram, I watch a reel from a comedian couple (Darcy and Jeremy. IYKYK) about how Darcy (ADHD) picks up accents everywhere they go. It's called ADHD Mirroring??? And it's another way of masking."
(The OP is referring to Darcy Michaels and his husband Jeremy Baer, who are both touring comedians based in Canada.)
Hundreds of people on the Reddit thread alone seem to relate. One comments, "Omfg I've done this my whole life; I'll even pick up on the pauses/spaces when I'm talking to someone who is ESL—but English is my first language lol."
Sometimes, it can be a real issue for those around the chameleon. "I accidentally mimicked a waitress's weird laugh one time. As soon as she was out of earshot, my family started to reprimand me, but I was already like 'oh my god I don’t know why I did that, I feel so bad.'"
Many commenters on TikTok were shocked to find out this can be a sign of ADHD. One jokes, "Omg, yes, at a store the cashier was talking to me and she was French. She's like 'Oh are you French too? No, I'm not lol. I'm very east coast Canada."
And some people just embrace it and make it work for them. "I mirror their words or phrase! I’m 30. I realized I start calling everyone sweetie cause my manager does & I work at coffee shop."