What is a ‘love surge?’ Cringey new dating trend sweeps globe

A wife who shared the unique way she and her husband display affection has been left in tears after many declared it “embarrassing”.

A woman who went viral after sharing the unique way she and her husband express their love has defended their “cringey” act after being brutally roasted online.

Lilianna Wilde and Sean Kolar amassed millions of views documenting a “love surge”, which they state happens when they are overflowing with adoration for one another and they just can’t contain it.

Lilianna described it as a physical reaction to their intense emotions that results in full-body tremors while they embrace.

The married pair, who described it themselves as the “cringiest most couple-y thing ever”, went on to explain that the only way to fix an overwhelming love surge was to embrace the other with a full body hug.

Lilianna Wilde and Sean Kolar went viral after detailing their unique display of affection. Picture: TikTok/Lilianna Wilde

Despite racking up almost six million views with their unique act of love, the clip wasn’t met with the response the couple hoped, with their video being widely mocked - leaving Lilianna in tears.

Backlash came in thick and fast for the couple after her original TikTok video was shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“I could’ve happily gone through my entire life without ever knowing what a ‘love surge’ is,” one person stated.

“This has got to be the most cringey video, the secondhand embarrassment is on level 1000,” another lamented.

As one raged: “It’s OK to keep some things private.”

Meanwhile others insisted the clip “made me want to throw up”, as some disgusted users said: “This is too embarrassing to watch”.

“This has put me off a relationship,” one woman scoffed.

“I think I want to stay single forever,” another agreed.

Dubbed the ‘love surge’ it is apparently when you are overwhelmed with emotion for your partner. Picture: TikTok/Lilianna Wilde

The sensation causes twitchy limbs and the only cure is a big hug. Picture: TikTok/Lilianna Wilde

But according to Lilianna in a teary follow up video, she’s copped death threats as a result of her video, and called out those who peddle hate online.

“I can take a joke and I can laugh at myself but then some of the comments got really mean,” she said.

“If the goal was to make me sad, you did it, you won.”

However, there were many who welcomed the unique display of affection, labelling it “adorable” and “the cutest thing ever”.

In the original clip, Lilianna explained it occurs “when one of us has, like, so much [love] in our limbs that we can’t contain it and feel like we’re gonna explode”.

But despite admitting it was ‘cringey’, the pair were brutally roasted, leaving Lilianna in tears. Picture: TikTok/Lilianna Wilde

The a content creator and musician described the dating phenomenon as her jittery husband stood behind her.

“So, Sean is having a love surge right now, and he’s gonna wrap around me and shake with the electricity of love until I catch it, too, and start shaking, and then you explode with a love surge,” she continued as the pair embraced.

Many have jumped to the smitten couple’s defence and revealed they’ve even started a trend by trying it themselves.

“I dunno why people are hating, this is cute,” one fan commented.

“Everyone here is the worst, that was kind of cute,” someone else wrote.

“Your love is beautiful, don't let anyone tell you otherwise, yall do you,” another person agreed.

Originally published as What is a ‘love surge?’ Cringey new dating trend sweeps globe