New York Subway Dancer Turns Awkward Encounter Into Viral Win After Man Tries to Sabotage Her Taylor Swift Video
NEW YORK CITY — A New York woman just wanted to film a lighthearted Taylor Swift–inspired TikTok on the subway — but instead, she ended up going viral for all the wrong (and right) reasons after a man behind her tried to ruin her video with crude gestures.
The woman, known online as @laydayallday, was dancing to Swift’s trending new hit, The Fate of Ophelia, from The Life of a Showgirl, when an unexpected background participant — quickly dubbed a “New York Chad” by commenters — decided to make himself part of the scene.
A Taylor Swift Trend Turns Sour — Then Hilarious
In the video, the woman smiles at the camera while showing off her all-black outfit and her adorable dog sitting by her side. Everything seems wholesome until one of the men standing behind her flips both middle fingers high in the air — directly into her shot.
According to her caption, the TikToker had asked both men for permission to film beforehand, and they agreed. But one man quickly changed his mind, mocking her the moment she began to dance.
Instead of reacting angrily, the woman simply laughed, smiled, and returned the gesture playfully — keeping her composure throughout the encounter.
“He couldn’t ruin your vibe, and that made him sad,” one viewer commented.
@laydayallday For the record I asked both guys if they mind being in the back of the video and the response was “yes I don’t care” 😭😂😭😂 #nycsubway #subway #fateofophelia
‘Chad Was Fine Until He Heard Taylor Swift’
The man didn’t stop there. At one point, he leaned closer and pushed his fingers near the woman’s face so they’d appear prominently on camera — a move many described as childish and attention-seeking.
Commenters wasted no time roasting him:
- “Can you imagine being bothered by this kind of happiness?” one user wrote.
- “That’s actually romantic of him,” another joked, referencing Swift’s lyrics about her haters.
- “Chad was fine until he heard Taylor Swift — then he was triggered,” added another viewer.
The original creator called him “the smallest man who ever lived,” echoing a line from one of Swift’s songs.
Swifties Turn the Moment Into a Viral Win
While the man may have tried to ruin her moment, he only helped boost her visibility. The TikTok has since racked up thousands of views and supportive comments, with fans applauding her ability to stay positive and laugh off negativity.
“You smiled through it all. That’s main-character energy,” one fan wrote.
Whether the subway “Chad” was just having a bad day or simply couldn’t handle a Swift song on public transit, the internet agreed on one thing — he made a fool of himself while making her famous.
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