We all have that one friend...the one who gives you second-hand anxiety from always, always draining their phone's battery to a critically low level...and doing absolutely nothing about it.
What we don't all have, however, is a group of friends that will take a stand to demand change in their lifestyle—and in a dramatic way to boot.
Austin Paul (@austinpaul_) does have that support group, though, and his went viral on TikTok for their commitment to end his low-battery problem...by way of an intervention.
In a TikTok that has now been viewed more than 12 million times in a matter of days, friends of the non-charging perp hilariously gave their heartfelt speeches to Paul—only wanting, of course, what's best for his own wellbeing.
The video begins with Paul entering a room where his friends are already seated. An empty chair awaits in front of them.
Wondering what's going on, Paul flinches and nearly walks out when he spots a banner on the wall reading:
"Austin"
"Be better please"
One by one, Paul's friends deliver their pleas and express their heartbreak over their dear pal's problem.
The first addresses him:
"I'd like to start with a few words, Austin, my uncharged hero."
"As the mother of this friend group, you leave me in a constant state of stress. Where is Austin? Somewhere with his phone on 4%."
"I love you with 100% of my heart, and I'm here to support you during this challenging new chapter."
The next friend shares similar concerns:
"Dear Austin, our low battery friend,"
"We know how hard of a struggle this journey has been for you. We're here just to make it easier because every message, call and notification is a bridge between us."
"And I brought you a little gift."
The gift, of course, was a charger.
Another friend expresses their worry:
"My beautiful, my bright uncharged baby boy,"
"My thumbs are sore from the 'charge' emojis that I sent to you. The call I gave you earlier about getting a new laptop was bullsh*t."
"I just wanted to make sure the charging accessories I got you today are compatible."
The last friend truly commits to the cause, yielding actual tears.
"It's so hard to speak about this without crying. I love you so much, and you've been one of my best friends in the world for almost 10 years."
"You're like family to me, and it's painful to see your life like this."
"Every day people ask me, 'Why doesn't Austin charge his phone?' And I have to downplay it and laugh it off."
She continues:
"Every time I see your battery percentage dropping, my heart drops, too."
"You have to keep your phone charged at least 20% at all times. I literally fear for your life that you don't charge it."
When the group asks if Paul has anything to say to them, he simply states:
"I can't promise a damn thing."
You can watch below.
WARNING: NSFW language
Viewers of the TikTok could not get over the hilariousness, and many expressed their entertainment by way of their favorite intervention speech quotes.
@austinpaul_/TikTok
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@austinpaul_/TikTok
Many also shared their appreciation for the small but mighty detail that was the banner.
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And several took the opportunity to recognize Paul's friends for their commitment to the betterment of his existence.
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And after some where confused how the friends knew that Paul's battery was also running out, one TikToker stepped into clarify.
@austinpaul_/TikTok
Life360 is a location sharing app that sends notifications to friends and family in cases of emergency—including when someone's phone is running low on battery.
The TikToker posted a follow-up video, showing him leaving his home with his phone charged at a whopping 21%
Hey, progress is progress. We're proud of you, Austin.
@PreetBharara/X
@RepBrendanBoyle/X
@twesq/Bluesky
@christopherharris/Bluesky
@evangelinewarren/X
@FrankC164/X
AMC