Over 7 million views is how many times the barbell lift gender reveal video has been watched on X alone. So yeah, people are obsessed!
In a world full of confetti cannons, balloon pops, and blue-or-pink cake slices, a single mom-to-be just flipped the gender-reveal script by hoisting a weighted barbell overhead until it exploded into pink smoke.
A video making rounds on social media shows a pregnant woman, dressed in a curve-hugging white sleeveless dress and flat sandals, lifting a heavy barbell outdoors in what looks like a public park. Not a gym. Just grass, grit, and pure determination.
She’s not just standing there for the photo op, either. In the viral footage, she’s fully locked in, holding the bar at shoulder height in a front squat position like a total pro.
With a swift and powerful push, she lifts the barbell overhead and then drops it. Boom. The black bags tied underneath the weight plates burst open on impact, releasing a cloud of pink smoke into the air.
It’s a girl!
The internet split. Some called it empowering. “That’s a strong single momma!” wrote one viewer. Others felt a twinge of sadness. “I always get sad when I see these with no father included,” someone else commented.
But everyone seemed to agree this wasn’t your average gender reveal. “Baby almost popped out and revealed itself,” another person joked, clearly caught somewhere between awe and concern.
But where did this trend even come from? And do you really need to throw a party to announce whether your baby will wear pink or blue?
The first modern gender reveal, at least the one credited with starting the madness, happened in 2008. Blogger Jenna Karvunidis baked a cake with pink icing inside to reveal she was having a girl. That’s it. No fireworks. No wild stunts. Just cake, family, and a knife. And somehow… the world ran with it.
Fast forward to today, and gender reveals have gone wildly off-script. Exploding cars, skydiving stunts, even wildfires. (Yes, one actual reveal sparked a massive California wildfire in 2020 that burned over 22,000 acres.) What started as a sweet little moment has now turned into a competition for clout, clicks, and colorful pyrotechnics.
But here’s the real question: is it important?
Honestly? It depends on you.
this might be one of the hardest gender reveals I've ever seen. she did that. STRONG AS A MOTHER.
— Sassington, M.C. (@MissSassbox) April 4, 2025pic.twitter.com/PrqatKBw92
Some parents love the idea of turning the surprise into a celebration. It’s another excuse to gather friends and family, snap cute photos, and get everyone hyped for the baby’s arrival. And there’s nothing wrong with that! In fact, for many first-time parents, it’s part of building memories.
Others see it differently. Some skip it altogether, either to avoid the spectacle or because they believe gender shouldn’t define a baby before they’re even born. Plus, with rising conversations around gender identity and nonbinary expression, some folks feel the whole concept is outdated or too rigid.
Even Jenna, the original cake mama, regrets unintentionally fueling the craze.
So, what do we think about lifting weights to reveal a baby’s gender?
Well, depending on who you ask, it’s either inspirational or a certified “Girl, be careful!” moment.
