Why 'I peeled my orange today' has TikTok sobbing

You'd be forgiven if you were confused by TikTokkers performatively sobbing over the phrase "I peeled my orange today."

That is what has been happening this week, and it raises questions with folks unfamiliar with the source material. Questions like Huh?, What?, and Why is peeling an orange sad? Well, after a quick investigation, the answer became clear: Folks are referencing a TikTok slideshow detailing (an almost assuredly fictional) breakup.

The TikTok in question, posted by @things.i.cant.sen has racked up more than 6 million views. It's a slideshow detailing the story of a breakup between two people named Charlotte and Em. Charlotte had their heart broken by Em, who is doing their best to comfort their ex. It's a story about young love — there are talks of going off to college — and how to know if someone is your soulmate.

During the conversation, Charlotte mentions that she missed the way Em would peel their oranges for them — Charlotte gets juice everywhere trying to do it herself. The final text, from Charlotte to Em, reads "I peeled my orange today." It is green instead of blue.

There's the final line. Credit: Screenshots: TikTok / @things.i.cant.sen

So, there you have it. TikTok is reacting to this slideshow and that final text, which indicates that Charlotte is starting to get over Em and that Em might've blocked Charlotte since the text went green.

Now, could this be a real text conversation? Sure. It's definitely meant to read that way. There is even one text with a name blocked out, apparently for anonymity. But this is the internet we're talking about, and the account, @things.i.cant.sen, frequently posts poetry and "conversations" between couples. The text conversation itself also leans saccharine and overly expository. In other words, it reads like how someone might write a text conversation but not how someone would have a text conversation.

Regardless, TikTok has latched onto it. Lots of folks posted emotional reactions on TikTok. Typically, these posts involve making a very sad face or sobbing with the text, "I peeled my orange today." Other users wondered what the hell was going on with TikTok and peeling oranges.

It makes sense this slideshow would go viral. Young people use TikTok, and young love is hard. It's filled with big emotions, so it makes sense a breakup story would take off on the app. To my perhaps jaded eyes — if the slideshow is indeed fictional — it's the sort of schmaltzy schlock you often get with these sorts of TikToks or Tumblr posts. It's designed to hit you with a cartoon hammer labeled "SAD."

That being said, the "I peeled my orange today" bit is a nice touch that does elevate the story. Love often comes down to the smaller acts — the little things that last in your mind — and it's no wonder TikTok has latched on to that ending. So if you see someone crying over peeled oranges, at least now you get it.