If you haven’t been on TikTok, I don’t blame you. But to be fair, you’re missing out on some pretty cool, if Chinese government regulated, content.
Howard Mandel is a Canadian comedian, television personality, screenwriter, actor, producer, director, entrepreneur, and game show host. He hosted the CNBC game show Deal or No Deal.
He’s also notably a germaphobe.
Since quarantine started, he’s basically been locked away at home hiding from the pandemic and all other human beings. During that time he has been fairly active on TikTok.
On July 3rd, Mandel posted the following clip. Not many people viewed it at first, but it’s now gone viral. It’s likely because teens believe he may be being held captive.
@officialhowiemandel
Mandel later said in an interview he was simply satirizing people who were “making banana bread and tie-dying” as well as finding other hobbies during quarantine.
Unfortunately, the joke went over TikTokers’ heads, as Gen Z has other things to keep them occupied. They were puzzled at first, and then later concerned over his wellness.
“What does that mean? We need to help him,” said YouTuber and now-famous TikToker Emmy Hartman. The hashtag #SaveHowieMandel has 9.8 million views.
User @baldiyadi claimed his video was “full of secret messages.” Mandel is wearing a lifeguard hoodie that reads “Santa Monica,” which the user claimed to be a signal of his location. Then things like Mandel pointing to the letters “SOS in a triangle” on his “shoe stuff” label.
Mandel has since refuted he is in any trouble and had quite a bit of a laugh at the confusion.
“There’s no way he just made a tiktok abt making a shoe stuff bag without it meaning something,” one commenter wrote. “That’s sus,” another added.
Mandel told Buzzfeed News he had no idea millions of teens were worried for his safety until his children and YouTuber David Dobrik called to tell him.
Mandell also told Buzzfeed that he is fine. And there is no need to worry about him.
Since then, he has started acting out the things he has been instructed to do to signal that he is in trouble. Like hilariously dancing by the stairs. Watch the hilarious clip here.
@officialhowiemandel
