Take a guess at who the most successful celebrity on TikTok is. It's a safe bet to assume that it's a Kardashian or even a Jenner at the top, but in true TikTok fashion, the answer is a little surprising.
Since breaking into the industry in 2006, Jason Derulo has become synonymous with chart-topping pop hits that are fused with R&B, hip-hop and EDM. His biggest hits include Wiggle, Talk Dirty, In My Head, and Whatcha Say, all of which made their way into the zeitgeist before 2013.
Despite this, Derulo has managed to connect to a new generation of fans by leveraging an audience that doesn't care about resumes but rather what someone has to contribute right now; whether that's a cooking hack, new trend, or a memeable moment. Derulo offers all this and more.
"People either love [him] or they hate [him]," YouTuber Casey Aonso concedes in a video titled, The Curious Case of Jason Derulo's TikTok. Though, she admits "it seems he's doing something right." His divisive TikTok presence has earned Derulo over 27.4 million followers to date, thanks to his irreverent videos that bounce from mouth-watering baking tutorials and choreographed dances to collaborations with the app's viral stars and even taking inspiration from the music attached to TikTok memes.
If you're still wondering how he did it, here are 9 moments that Derulo stole the show on TikTok.
1. The corn cob incident
Even if you're not on TikTok you probably saw Derulo try and eat a corn cob using a drill. Yes, an electric drill. In May, he posted a video where he quips, "I always wanted to try this... life hack" before turning on the drill. What starts as a good idea quickly goes downhill when the speed increases and knocks out his two front teeth. "His new name is 'Jathon Derulo,'" one user commented.
Not to worry, because mere moments after posting the video paparazzi photos of the singer revealed the whole thing to be a well-orchestrated prank. Derulo's teeth were intact and everything was fine.
@jasonderulo Don’t try this ??????
2. He also faked his own decapitation
Not one to pass on dramatics, Derulo continued his Hollywood-style stunts in a video captioned, "I’m losing my head." Soundtracked to TikTok hit, Sunday Best by Surfaces Derulo runs up and down his stairs and shows off a very tasteful self-inflicted decapitation. "He’s my favourite TikTok celebrity," one user commented. "He actually puts in time and effort. Not to mention the fact that he dominates the for you page with his sounds."
@jasonderulo I’m losing my head ?? ??@davidstrib
3. Savage Love
Rising New Zealand musician, Joshua Stylah, better known as Jawsh 685 released Laxed (Siren Beat) and soon enough it became one of TikTok's biggest viral hits. The 17-year old student pays homage to his Samoan and Cook Island heritage with the song and has been used in over 50 million videos. Mostly its been adopted by TikTokers celebrating their heritage by dancing to the song wearing cultural garb.
@sameeksha_sud 1 2 or 3 ?? Tell in comments... ???? ##teentigada ##samkesitare
So when Derulo announced his latest single, Savage Love, which prominently sampled the TikTok sound, lots of users were unimpressed. The post didn't acknowledge Jawsh 685 which sparked outrage amongst the New Zealand producer's fanbase.
Jawsh 685 is now credited as a co-writer of Savage Love, following the 17-year-old signing with Columbia Records. The viral song has hit the #1 position in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, and is set to spend its second week at the top of the charts in the UK.
@jasonderulo Who did it best, us or the sky? @justmaiko @itsjonathanle
? Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat) - Jawsh 685 & Jason Derulo
4. Get Ugly has helped many TikTokers come out
Earlier this year, Derulo's 2014 song Get Ugly inspired a really wholesome TikTok trend. The video format works by a queer friend and a straight one singing along to the song, with the crescendo coming as they lipsync the line "Oh my oh my oh my god, this girl's straight and this girl's not." It's heartwarming and beautiful, and we have Derulo to thank for it.
@carleyyyanne coming out to my sister??????. she was so supportive ?? @hallielane ##NotSoOrdinary ##sowholesome ##comingout ##fyp ##gay ##foryou ##viral
5. #MilliMeals
To really bring home how successful Derulo has been, the singer currently has just over 6 million followers on Instagram and 3.7 million followers on Twitter, compared to almost 28 million on TikTok. And he's fully aware of his success on the app.
To celebrate every million followers, Derulo has started a tradition of making outrageous "milli meals" to mark the occasion and each one is wilder than the last.
There was his failed icecream sandwich in commemoration of hitting 18 million followers. To celebrate hitting the 20 million mark, he created a stack of pancakes that reached the second floor of his home. At 25 million followers he created a cotton candy sandwich with lashings of gummy bears, rainbow ice cream and sprinkles. "This is the most sugar we've ever had," he mumbles through a mouthful of fairy floss. Not to forget his very questionable rainbow popcorn to mark 26 million followers.
@jasonderulo Movie night??? Thank you for 26 Million ##MilliMeals
6. When he ate 22 hamburgers in 2 hours
Apparently, after gaining 22 million followers you must eat 22 burgers in 2 hours. If you've ever wanted to see Derulo vomit from too many burgers this is for you.
@jasonderulo Thought I’d post this draft from when I hit 22 Million ##Millimeal
7. The singer's take on the chocolate egg prank
Imagine finding a delicious chocolate egg, only to bite into it, revealing a very real, very raw chicken's egg. It's a gross prank that stretches back to at least 2013 but has become a staple in the TikTok universe. Not one to miss a trend, Derulo decided to try it out. In the video, he offers his friend Mr Movie what appears to be a brownie and, well you know what happens next.
@jasonderulo Got em’ ???? @mrmovi3
8. When he got spoofed by Alexis Feacher aka @youngbbq
Derulo officially made it on TikTok after one of the funniest accounts on the app @yungbbq, run by Alexis Feacher poked some fun at his dance to Lpb Poody's Address It.
@yungbbq I’m talking bout mmm @jasonderulo ##fyp ##foryourpage ##xyzbca
9. The official start to the "Jason Derulo" part of the year
@jasonderulo Thank god for surgery, my eyebrow’s back ??
