Alyssa Mckee, a 25-year-old woman from Alabama, recently shared a mortifying moment she experienced when she realized that people outside her car could hear the spicy audiobooks she listens to while driving. Mckee, like many other commuters and road trip travelers, often listens to audiobooks to pass the time during her drives. However, she had no idea that the sound could be heard from outside the vehicle. This became a problem when Mckee discovered that the audiobooks she enjoyed were of a steamy nature, specifically Harry Styles fanfiction.
In a viral TikTok video posted on December 11, Mckee responded to a comment from a follower who expressed concern about the volume at which she listened to her audiobooks. Curious about the claim, Mckee tested it by turning on her audiobook and then stepping outside her car. Much to her embarrassment, she could clearly hear the explicit content from the audiobook, prompting her to rush back into the car to turn it off. Mckee expressed her embarrassment in the video, stating that she felt like throwing up at the realization.
Fan fiction, created by amateur writers and often featuring fictional stories involving real-life celebrities, has been a common part of fandoms for years. Well-known examples of fan fiction that have been transformed into officially-published novels include the Fifty Shades of Grey series, initially inspired by Twilight fan fiction, and the After romance series based on Harry Styles fan fiction. Mckee’s video, capturing her embarrassing moment of revelation that her spicy audiobooks could be heard outside, resonated with TikTok users, who found humor in her mishap.
The TikTok video of Mckee’s realization garnered almost one million views and over 100,000 likes, with many users sharing their own similar experiences of accidentally broadcasting private content in public. Mckee, feeling less incompetent after realizing others were in the same boat, found comfort in the supportive comments from viewers. She admitted that she was surprised by the attention the video received, as it stemmed from another video that had not received much notice. Moving forward, Mckee plans to be mindful of the volume of her audiobooks, particularly at red lights, but she humorously added that she would crank up the sound on the highway.
Ultimately, Mckee’s humorous video serves as a reminder to others to be mindful of the content they listen to in public spaces, as it may inadvertently be audible to those around them. The viral clip allowed Mckee to connect with others who had similar experiences and provided a lighthearted moment for viewers to laugh at the relatable situation. Mckee’s newfound awareness of the sound leakage from her car has led to a change in her listening habits, as she now plans to adjust the volume settings on her audiobooks to avoid any future embarrassing moments.