It's only February, and 2017 has already given us Salt Bae, Hurt Bae, and Stranded Bae. We now have a story that features a new character whom people are calling "Boot Bae." The story comes with a bit of drama — but we'll get there.
In a clip that's gone massively viral, a woman is seen instinctively sticking up her thigh-high boot to another woman approaching her man during what looked like a runway show:
People were both inspired and floored by the woman's motion.
People called it an assassin-like, "Mortal Kombat-level quality moment."
Just like that, #BootBae was born. Hilarious references were made, like to Nivea's "Don't Mess With My Man."
And the "Stay in Your Lane" gospel.
And ofc, SpongeBob.
There was a lot of discussion about what went down in the six-second clip. People thought the woman approaching the boyfriend was completely in the wrong.
Others thought Boot Bae took it to another level it didn't have to get to.
And then there were sympathizers to Boot Bae's bae, who joked that he got a handful and/or a mouthful afterward.
But the woman on the receiving end of the heel has a different story, and doesn't think it's all jokes.
"I was supposed to do something to entice the crowd to get my bids up and I didn't really notice the couple," Smith explained. "I just saw a guy."
She said when the man's girlfriend stuck her boot heel to her, she didn't think too much of it and just kept it moving.
"In the moment I thought, Oh OK, she's not a cool with this, it's whatever," Smith said.
To her, that was that, but the internet was just getting started. That moment was immediately turned into meme fodder.
You wouldn't have to drop kick a hoe if you don't bring your man to a date auction #bootbae
Don't do it, you gon die ...😂 #BootBae
Then, in a plot twist no one suspected, Smith got on Twitter and claimed she really wanted "her," aka Boot Bae, and "not her man."
I really wanted her not her man 🤷🏽♀️ but it's whatever
Her single tweet's been retweeted more than 10,000 times, and folks were like, what?!
RT @JordanOhhMyy: I really wanted her not her man 🤷🏽♀️ but it’s whatever
Come again?
"i wanted her not her man" #bootbae
man oh man would y'all look at that #BootBae
Some even rewatched the clip closely to re-read the intentions and body language.
Me after watching the video 10 times and not seeing where she really wanted #bootbae instead of her man
"If she wanted her...why was the trajectory of her walk aimed at his dick...?" - me after a 5th viewing of #BootBae
Still, there were skeptics. Smith told BuzzFeed that it wasn't a ploy or lie to save face — she was intending it to be a joke. "It was just humor to cut the tension," she stressed.
@ygselena @Keabie_S Lies. She said that so tweeps wouldn't crucify her.
While she's not too surprised by all the social media attention around it, she is startled by all the negativity. "All the name-calling isn't needed from people who don't know me," she said.
That's funny. But see... 1. Ole girl was BOLD AF for walking up on him with his OBVIOUS girl right there. These hoes got nerves. ALSO...
Moreover, Smith is not concerned about the drama as long as it brings more attention and funds to the Nigerian Student Association at UH.
But only two other issues remain: 1) Where is everyone getting these fly-ass, over-the-knee boots?
for everyone else dying over #bootbae's incredible boots, they're currently on sale https://t.co/L0TnyoOJKr
And where are the baes for everyone else? :(
There's been #SaltBae, #HurtBae, #StrandedBae, and #BootBae, but I still have #NoBae.