Nick Lachey, a member of the popular boy band 98 Degrees, recently took to TikTok to share an acoustic cover of Halsey’s hit song “Without Me.” The viral video, featuring Lachey giving his all while singing and strumming a guitar, quickly garnered attention. However, the response from TikTok users was far from positive. With over 5 million views and counting, Lachey’s performance has become the subject of intense criticism and merciless trolling.
While Lachey’s talent and technical skills cannot be denied, many TikTok users found his performance uncomfortable and exaggerated. Comments on the video ranged from playful jabs to downright brutal assessments of Lachey’s abilities. One user quipped, “When you’re on a third date and he whips out a guitar and says he’s ‘never done this before.'” Others referred to Lachey’s boy band roots, saying, “It’s giving 28 degrees,” and “It’s giving room temp 78°.” The onslaught of criticism didn’t stop there, with one user confessing, “I’m 42 and didn’t know I could feel this dry.”
Some TikTok users couldn’t help but wonder what Halsey must have thought of Lachey’s rendition. One netizen asked, “What did Halsey do to deserve this?” Another user bluntly stated, “The crazy part is he taped this, watched it, and said yep this is the one. Post it.” Speculation about the state of Lachey’s PR team also arose, with one viewer commenting, “His PR team must have been on vacation.” The guitar player accompanying Lachey in the video didn’t escape criticism either, as one TikToker wondered, “Do you think the guitar guy is also cringing?”
Perhaps the most striking comparison made by TikTok users was to a fictional scene from a future Greta Gerwig film. Users likened Lachey’s awkward acoustic number to a moment in the fictional 2023 “Barbie” movie, where Ken (played by Ryan Gosling) serenades Barbie (played by Margot Robbie). Comments included, “It’s giving Ken…” and “That’s kenough.” Clearly, TikTok users found Lachey’s performance reminiscent of an uncomfortable movie moment.
Despite the overwhelming criticism, there were some users who came to Lachey’s defense. They argued that the negative comments were too harsh and emphasized Lachey’s undeniable talent. One defender wrote, “He is not bad at all. I don’t know why people are making fun of him. For real. He’s older, and his tone has changed, but so many people cannot do this!” Another user echoed the sentiment, stating, “I’m not even a fan of this guy, but I think he sounds good. Y’all are too used to everybody using autotune.” One curious user even asked, “I don’t understand. I think he’s singing OK. he’s on key, he’s in tune. What’s the problem?” A fan also noted, “I thought he was being quite vulnerable… came off cute to me.”
As the criticism continues to swirl around the infamous TikTok video, Nick Lachey has remained silent on the matter. Whether he chooses to address the backlash or let the performance speak for itself, only time will tell. However, one thing is clear – Lachey’s acoustic cover of “Without Me” has certainly generated quite the buzz on TikTok, for better or for worse.