As someone who was recently excluded from the category of “young person” by a literal doctor, it’s safe to say I have to go out of my way to keep my niche internet references youthful and juicy, just like my skincare routine. Enter hours of doomscrolling on TikTok because everyone knows it’s low-key educational (how else would I know what sex chocolate tabs are??). Though millennials have rightfully been declared the superior generation (we knew this, but we’re glad the rest of you are catching up), that doesn’t mean we’re not interested in keeping up with our impressionable, chronically online peers. That’s where the new(ish) slang term “crashing out” comes in.

Though the sentiment is far from new, its popularity as the TikTok phrase of the moment made it necessary to break this topic down, once and for all. If you’re wondering “What is crashing out?” keep reading (because this is probs going to come in handy in 2025).

What is crashing out?

Put simply, to crash out is to lose your shit beyond the confines of logic and reason. Crashing out is different from a mental breakdown (no, I won’t use the term “menty b” because I’m a grown-up) because the person is directing their spiral outwards, usually in anger, as opposed to breaking down internally. When you’re crashing out, emotions have taken over, and anyone in your path is liable to get the business. It’s basically the exact opposite of the American Dictionary definition of the same words: to fall asleep quickly from being tired. The lady in Baby Reindeer sending 1,000s of unanswered emails is the crash-out mascot. She and Kanye West from 2013 to 2020.

How do you know if you’re about to crash out?

Some people describe it as seeing red; others have frustrated tears build up in their eyeballs before they explode like a Looney Tune with steam coming from their ears. I, for one, can sense an adult temper tantrum is on the horizon when the culprit behind my crash-out fades away, and all I can hear is Michael Caine telling me to burn the whole forest down like I’m the Dark Knight. The best way to avoid crashing out is to address your feelings before they boil over, but considering the way the world is moving these days, to be alive is to (occasionally) crash out.

Who came up with the phrase “crash out”?

Like many (most) viral slang gems these days, this iteration of crash out derived from AAVE before it became a TikTok darling. The OG context of being a “crash dummy” (perpetual victim of crashing out) definitely centered on the violent/rage aspect of crashing out. Rappers like YoungBoy Never Broke Again brought the wording to the mainstream with his song “Stepped On” in 2017.

Examples Of Famous Celebrity Crash Outs

Tom Hanks’ Niece On Claim To Fame

Claim To Fame is a little-known reality show hosted by the Jonas Brothers where contestants scheme to figure out the distant famous relative of their cast mates. During season 2, Carly Reeves tried to distract the others from guessing she was Tom Hanks’ niece. But when they figured her out in the first episode, ol’ girl unexpectedly crashed out on the silly little game show that made pop culture history. And, ofc, this queen regrets absolutely nothing.

Az4Angela “I MIGHT Boycott Bath & Body Works RANT!”

To have lived through the video of Angela ripping a Wisconsin (Appleton, Wisconsin, to be exact) Bath & Body Works to shreds is truly one of the highlights of my life. The EXPLICIT (it’s actually very SFW) YouTube rant about two missing Winter Candy Apple and Iced Gingerbread scented candles is my favorite niche crash out, ever. I bet those OshKosh employees never forgot her.

ANTM “I Can’t Take The Pressure Of It”

Now, this crash out is on the demure side but it’s still canon in my book. A mere two seconds into her audition, this brave lass decides America’s Next Top Model is not for her after all and (mindfully) storms out. TBH, she was onto something since Tyra was up to pure maniacal malarkey every single episode.

Teresa Giudice Shoving Andy Cohen

Sure, Teresa’s most historic bitch fit was the table flip that shook the entire east coast. But we cannot forget the second time Danielle Staub brought the Jersey princess to a 20 on a scale of one to 10. When Danielle teased that Tre had drama with her brother and sister-in-law before the Gorgas even joined the RHONJ circus, Teresa got so fired up that she Hulked on Andy Cohen, who had tried in vain to calm her down. Note to my corporate queens: maybe don’t try this with your boss at home.

Tom Cruise Warns Mission Impossible 7 Crew About Covid Protocol

Image Credit: Getty Images

Once again, some crash outs are on the right side of history. Back in 2020, Tom Cruise was “on the phone with every fucking studio at night” because Mission Impossible was the first blockbuster to hopefully usher in a revival of industry jobs during the pandemic. According to leaked audio in The Sun, when Tom saw crew members dicking around without their masks on, he let them know in no uncertain terms he was not having it. It’s an impossible mission to pick the best line in this iconic rant, but I’ll go with “That’s what I sleep with every night” (which I like to toss around at any minor inconvenience).

Chappell Roan Calling Out Fan Behavior

Settle down, Chappell stans; we’ve already established all crash-outs are not created equal. When Chappell gave a spicy delivery starting with a series of rhetorical questions to paint a picture of what it’ll take to be in her fandom (including not calling her by her government name), she entered the crash-out HOF. In fact, any front-facing celebrity rants or notes app posts on Instagram with more than one slide have to be considered, legally.

Ice Spice Vs. Cleotrapa

Remember when Ice Spice’s tourmate called her out for bad co-worker behavior, and Ice responded by hopping into a Twitter space to essentially call her ex-friend a big-backed ingrate? Fun times!

“Fuck it, we’ll do it live!”

Presenting: the only time it’s socially acceptable to quote Bill O’Reilly. A teleprompter issue sent a young(er) Bill into orbit with little to no notice for his poor crew. Olympic-level mask slipping, if you ask me.

The Insurrection

Image Credit: Getty Images

Yep, January 6, 2020, was pretty much the ultimate violent crash-out. Some “patriotic” Americans were soooo convinced the election was rigged that they had a bitch fit on the capitol that led to several casualties. Can you imagine getting so mad about people exercising their right to vote you accidentally landed yourself in prison? Funny enough, I think those same truthtellers will unquestioningly back the 2024 election results this go around.