Cesar Watson-King, a 12-year-old boy, has recently hit headlines for being hospitalized after participating in the latest chroming trend on TikTok. His mom, Nichola, reportedly found him seizing on the floor.
“He went blue and stopped breathing. I thought he’d died,” Nichola said.
“When police told me what he’d inhaled, I thought he was going to die. I knew it said on the back of cans: ‘Solvent abuse kills instantly,’” she added. Cesar was then rushed to a hospital, and doctors had to put him in a medically induced coma. Luckily he survived and was discharged from the hospital after eight days.
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So, what is the chroming challenge on TikTok? It involves inhaling the fumes of chrome-based paint to get high but has evolved to include aerosol cans, spray deodorants, or paint containers. The term ‘chroming’ is an informal term that originated in Australia.
On TikTok, users participating in the challenge post their videos under the hashtag “WhipTok.” It’s a slang term for the recreational use of nitrous oxide.
Cesar isn’t the first victim harmed by this trend. Esra Haynes, a 13-year-old student from Melbourne, Australia, passed away on March 31, 2023, from chemical exposure after she reportedly sniffed an aerosol deodorant at a sleepover.
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In September 2023, 14-year-old Sarah Mescall was found dead as a possible result of the TikTok chroming challenge. According to the Irish Independent, Mescall died on September 25, three days after being admitted to a hospital in Dublin.
After Mescall’s death, a TikTok spokesperson commented to say the platform shared its “deepest sympathies” with the teen’s family.
“Content of this nature is prohibited on our platform and would be removed if found,” said the spokesperson.”
They added, “We will continue to prioritize protecting and supporting our community, working with expert partners and providing safety resources to those who need them.”
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