TikTokers are using new "cute winter boots" code to allegedly organize Luigi-style violence

A bizarre phrase is popping up on TikTok, and some users think it’s not about footwear. Posts mentioning “cute winter boots” are sparking rumors that the term is code for organizing protests or even violent acts. The hashtag and phrase have gone viral, but nobody seems to agree on what it actually means.

It started when some users noticed TikTok videos using the phrase “cute winter boots” in weird contexts. One user asked, “What is the ‘Cute Winter Boots’ thing? I know it’s a code name for some sort of movement but for what exactly?” Comments suggested it could mean anything from peaceful protests to “fighting back” against political figures. Others argued it’s being used to dodge TikTok’s content filters, which some claim are censoring anti-Trump posts.

Then things got weirder. On X, conservative accounts like Jack Posobiec warned that “cute winter boots” was linked to plans for “Luigi-style violence” — a term that’s not clearly defined but seems to hint at chaotic or aggressive protests.

One post accused them of using the code to “trick the algorithm” while sharing tips on disguises, like camera-blocking makeup and face coverings, to avoid being identified at rallies. “These things seemed to be talking about something more serious than that,” said one Redditor responding to a comment claiming that “it’s code for protest/fighting back/making your voice heard.”

Some creators even hold up handwritten notes on camera, believing it’s harder for algorithms to detect. Not everyone’s buying it though. Some users called the claims overblown. They pointed out that “cute winter boots” mostly shows up in harmless fashion videos. One concerned person, however, did say that these posts are mostly from “radicalized kids who don’t even know what the hell they’re talking about.”

So what’s really going on? There’s no proof that “cute winter boots” is a call to action. Most videos under the tag are literally about boots. But the rumors keep spreading, mixing genuine confusion with wild theories.

TikTok hasn’t commented on the claims. The company is already under tremendous pressure of a potential ban and is even catching flak for censoring certain words like “free Palestine.”

For now, “cute winter boots” is either a silly trend, a political dog whistle, or just another internet mystery. As one user put it, “I thought TikTok was being weird.” Maybe that’s the only thing everyone can agree on.