The discussion around Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper usually focuses on his on-the-field play, but this week he went viral for a very different reason.
A TikTok posted by Harper describing his morning routine drew attention online for the baseball star’s interesting toothpaste application.
In the video, Harper is going about his morning business during a San Diego road trip — washing his face, putting in his contacts and brushing his teeth. That was the moment that stood out from the otherwise mundane eight-minute video, as instead of squirting the toothpaste onto his toothbrush, he squirted it directly into his mouth.
That inspired a variety of reactions from the internet, from disgust to curiosity.
The San Diego Padres jumbotron crew even got in on the fun as the Phillies visited Petco Park this week.
As for Harper, he brushed off — pun intended — any criticism.
“It kind of happens when you post a little bit, right?” Harper said, per Phillies Nation. “But yeah, I’ve done (the toothpaste application) forever.”
It brought more attention to his TikTok page, which has nearly 650,000 followers, so in the end, Harper is fine with the attention on his oral hygiene habits.
“I mean, it’s gone viral, so I’m happy about that,” Harper said. “It always helps with my videos when it goes viral, so if that’s what makes it go viral, then I’ll take it.”
This season, Harper is batting .266 with 12 home runs and 33 RBI. The Phillies regained control of a winning record with a sweep of the Padres, with Harper hitting a home run during the series.