Where did “the dichotomy is crazy” come from?
The phrase comes from a viral video by TikToker and musician Sam Wilmot. The original video was posted to TikTok in January 2024—it’s since been deleted, but other users have uploaded it. In the clip, Wilmot (@yesimsamwilmot) stands in front of the camera to show off his outfit, which includes black cargo work pants, a T-shirt with heavy-metal-inspired lettering, black Converse, and a rolled-up beanie. He says: “I think it’s really funny that I dress like this and give off like … a tough sort of thing going on, and then I cry to Phoebe Bridgers in the shower, and I listen to Searows and Boy Genius. And … the dichotomy is crazy. I don’t even listen to hardcore music that much. Look at this shirt. It’s my friend’s tattoo brand. Anyway, I’m gonna go, later.”
Spread of the “The Dichotomy is Crazy” Meme
The video went viral on X in March 2024. In a now-deleted tweet, X user @powcampsurvivor posted the original video with the caption, “I thought everyone was exaggerating but these guys really do exist.” That post took off, quickly spawning others to post their own takes on the Dichotomy video. Examples include: In this post, X user @ tallboythinlegs used Wilmot’s speech as a caption for an illustration of the Zodiac killer. TikToker @brockalishus recreated the video wearing a similar outfit. In this TikTok post, @lostinseparation poses in a similarly “tough” outfit, but he holds a matcha and carries a tote bag that contains feminist literature and a Labubu. He uses the audio from the above @brockalishus video. TikToker @stanzipotenza posted this video captioned “POV: your sleep paralysis demon is a performative male.” In the video, the “demon” asks for consent to make a matcha and claims to primarily read works by female authors before launching into Wilmot’s “dichotomy is crazy” monologue.
Why do people make fun of the Dichotomy guy?
People criticize Wilmot for seeming performative and inauthentic. Whether he’s being sincere or not, Wilmot gives off performative male vibes. Performative males often go out of their way to come across as a “good guy,” emphasizing how in touch they are with their emotions or how much they support feminism as a way to attract females. Some people took issue with Wilmot’s “hardcore” outfit of all-black clothing, tucked-in T-shirt, and rolled-up beanie, feeling that it made him look more poser than hardcore. In a response to @brockalishus’ recreation of Wilmot’s video, TikToker @wompwomp9529 summed it up with a simple, “Performative everything.” Many responses centered on the fact that performative males sometimes have a tendency to be emotional manipulators or abusers. For instance, TikToker @theloneliestmuse commented, “Male manipulator final boss,” and @taydaughterortyson says, “i see right through this monster.” That said, it’s important to note that there’s no evidence that Wilmot was being insincere—only that the post may have come across that way to some viewers. Even if they’re intended to be light-hearted, some responses to the video could come across as cyberbullying.
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