Gen Zers live in worry they’re headed for a breakup this vacation season as a result of they purchased their companions a brand new pair of footwear for Christmas.
The viral ‘shoe idea’ taking on TikTok is derived from the previous superstition that gifting family members footwear is unhealthy luck and can result in them strolling out of your life.
Each dumpers and dumpees have detailed how their previous relationships got here to an finish following the seemingly innocuous buy of a pair of footwear as a present.

TikTok consumer @taylor.castroo is among the many believers of the viral ‘shoe idea’ that has taken over the platform this vacation season

The speculation is derived from the previous superstition that gifting family members footwear will result in them strolling out of your life. TikTok consumer @yrfavtaurus claimed that her boyfriend dumped her proper after she purchased him sneakers for his birthday
The hashtag #shoetheory has a whopping six billion views on the platform, and most of the newer movies are set to lyrics from Lana Del Rey’s ‘Mariners Residence Complicated.’
TikTok consumer @megan.grace20 shared that she ‘simply discovered concerning the idea’ and resides proof that it’s actual.
‘I purchased my [boyfriend] the Lightning McQueen Crocs for Christmas this yr, and he broke up with me three weeks after I purchased them and a month earlier than Christmas,’ she wrote within the on-screen textual content.
‘It is a curse,’ she added within the caption.

TikTok consumer @megan.grace20 shared that she ‘simply discovered concerning the idea’ and resides proof that it’s actual

TikTok consumer @lilbih923 famous that she and her boyfriend have been collectively for ‘virtually two years’ when she purchased him a pair of Jordans. He dumped her a month later
The now-viral video has been considered greater than 3.3. million instances, and she or he is not the one one who’s blaming her heartbreak on footwear.
‘Shoe idea is 100% correct as a result of one time I purchased a person $400 Jordans for Christmas, and he broke up [with] me a month later,’ TikTok consumer @lilbih923 shared.
She famous within the caption that they have been collectively for ‘virtually two years,’ and he did not even hassle to present her the expensive sneakers again.
‘I simply discovered what the shoe idea is and IT IS REAL,’ agreed Taylor Castro, whose deal with is @taylor.castroo. ‘I purchased my ex the pair of footwear he actually wished for Xmas, and we broke up per week after. He even put the footwear up on Depop the day we broke up.’

TikTok consumer @okay.kati.2 admitted in a current video that she initially thought the speculation was ‘dumb,’ however then she remembered her ex ‘walked out’ of her life after she gifted a pair of footwear

TikTok consumer @anniep recalled how she broke up together with her boyfriend after he purchased her a pair of footwear for Christmas
TikTok consumer @okay.kati.2 admitted in a current video that she initially thought the speculation was ‘dumb,’ however then she ‘had a lightbulb second’ after performing some analysis.
‘Humorous sufficient I had gifted an ex of mine a pair of footwear, and thoughts you that is the one I’ve ever gifted somebody a pair of footwear…. and yeah, not gonna lie, they undoubtedly walked out of my life,’ she stated.
The shoe idea appears to be a contemporary tackle an previous Chinese language superstition. In line with the South China Morning Submit, giving footwear as a present is believed to ‘carry unhealthy luck.’
‘The phrase “shoe” sounds just like the phrase “evil” in Mandarin or “tough” in Cantonese, so giving footwear as a gift is a giant no-no,’ the article states.
Regardless of the wave of shoe idea tales which have gone viral this month, it is essential to keep in mind that the so-called proof is merely anecdotal — and certain coincidental.

There have additionally been numerous individuals who have got down to disprove the superstition, together with TikTok consumer @victoriaclemxxo

Nonetheless, that hasn’t stopped individuals from freaking out over the truth that they purchased their companions footwear for Christmas. TikTok consumer @amy.mcgillivray identified that the speculation is throughout her ‘For You’ web page

TikTok consumer @cryingwithgab was upset that she did not hear concerning the idea till after she purchased her accomplice a brand new pair of footwear
There have additionally been numerous individuals who have got down to disprove the superstition, together with TikTok consumer @victoriaclemxxo.
‘Girls I am proof the shoe idea is a fable!!’ she captioned her video. ‘He put a hoop on it years in the past, and I purchase him footwear yearly!’
One commenter claimed that the actual situation is the worth of the footwear, arguing that giving a brand new accomplice ‘something costly’ can result in a breakup as a result of it seems like you might be ‘making an attempt too exhausting.’
Nonetheless, that hasn’t stopped individuals — notably younger girls — from freaking out over the truth that they purchased their companions footwear for Christmas.
‘Why is the shoe idea simply now popping out?’ consumer @cryingwithgab requested in her video. ‘Like after I purchased his current? Actually? I did not simply purchase a 100 greenback pair of footwear simply to get damaged up with.’