‘It’s a curse’: Gen Z losing their minds over ‘shoe theory’

Gen Z is losing its mind over a TikTok trend that claims to reveal whether you’re set to be dumped over Christmas. Here’s how to know if your relationship is safe.

A viral superstition has Gen Z terrified they’ll be dumped over Christmas just for buying their partners a new pair of shoes, as users insist their own relationship woes are proof.

TikTok has been thrown into a frenzy ahead of the gifting season over the viral “shoe theory”, which hails from an old wives’ tale that gifting loved ones footwear is back luck and will lead to them walking out of your life.

Heartbreak track extraordinaire Lana Del Rey’s Mariners Apartment Complex appears to be the soundtrack of shoe-failed relationships past, with the videos set to the lyric: “They mistook my kindness for weakness. I f****d up, I know that, but, Jesus.”

The hashtag #shoetheory has more than six billion views on the platform, with both dumpers and dumpees testifying that the theory is real.

@yrfavetaurus

does anybody want these big ass jordans i’ve been holding onto for an entire year😳

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TikTok user @megan.grace20 said she had “just found out about the theory” and has proof that it is real.

“I bought my [boyfriend] the Lightning McQueen Crocs for Christmas this year, and he broke up with me three weeks after I bought them and a month before Christmas,” she wrote over the video.

“It’s a curse,” she said.

The Lightning McQueen Crocs look as below, which may have been the deciding factor.

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TikTok user @megan.grace20 said her boyfriend dumped her after she bought him Lightning McQueen Crocs for Christmas. Picture: TikTok/@megan.grace20

The Lightning McQueen Crocs look as so, which may have been a deciding factor. Picture: Crocs.

Others noted the shoes didn’t even need to reach the gifting stage in order for the relationship to blow up.

“Ladies, here is undeniable proof that the shoe theory is real. I told him I was getting him Jordans for his (birthday) and by the time they came in, he had already dumped me,” user @yrfavtaurus said.

As per the superstition, the theory isn’t limited to romantic partners.

User @furubaot attested to giving her “guy best friend” Blundstone boots.

“He wouldn’t give me my Nintendo Switch back ‘til the police had to get involved and then blocked me on everything,” she said in a dramatic twist.

@furubaot

he has a 3rd account he never told me about so HI WILLY #greenscreenvideo#shoetheory#blundstones#shoes#men#friends#drama#ontario#yeah#relateable#rat#fyp#foryou#4u

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Pop sensations, too, were not immune.

Tiktokker @kksparkleprincess looked to music superstar Taylor Swift, highlighting the opening lyrics of Bejewelled – “Didn’t notice you walking all over my peace of mind, in the shoes I gave you as a present” – as yet more proof the theory is true.

The shoe theory could be a modern take on a historic Chinese superstition. According to the South China Morning Post, giving shoes as a gift is bound to “bring bad luck”.

“The word ‘shoe’ sounds similar to the word ‘evil’ in Mandarin or ‘rough’ in Cantonese, so giving footwear as a present is a big no-no,” the article states.

@baby_jay2502

Surely this has to be a joke. 🥹 #shoetheory#stressingmeout#pleaseno#dontleaveme#fyp#someonehelp

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Some users, nonetheless, were determined to disprove the shoe theory.

TikTok user @victoriaclemxxo claimed to be living proof that it was a “myth”.

“He put a ring on it years ago, and I buy him shoes every year!” she captioned her video.

In the words of one commenter: “Maybe return them this time, just to be safe.”

Originally published as ‘It’s a curse’: Gen Z losing their minds over ‘shoe theory’