Overview
- Harper posted an eight-minute “get ready” TikTok that showed him putting toothpaste directly into his mouth before brushing, a clip first circulated online on Monday and picked up by sports outlets.
- Excerpts of the video racked up millions of views across platforms, with at least one post on X reported to have more than 11 million views and Harper’s TikTok drawing hundreds of thousands of views and likes.
- Reaction on social media was overwhelmingly negative, with many users mocking the technique, though a smaller group defended it as a harmless personal preference.
- Harper addressed the attention in the visitors’ clubhouse on Wednesday, saying the method is something he has ‘done forever’ and that he welcomed the video’s reach, while the Phillies have not issued a formal comment.
- The episode underscores how athlete-produced clips can be rapidly amplified by fans, rival teams (the Padres displayed a joke about the routine on their scoreboard), and media coverage, turning a minor personal habit into a sustained online story.