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“This Documentary Has Literally Bonded An Entire Nation”: People Are Recording The Reactions Their Loved Ones Are Having To “Unknown Number: The High School Catfish” On Netflix, And The Videos Are Something You Have Got To See
It’s one of those “don’t tell them anything, just press play” kind of documentaries.

by Krista Torres
BuzzFeed Staff

Warning: If you haven’t seen this documentary, this post is FULL of spoilers.

If you’ve seen Unknown Number: The High School Catfish on Netflix, then you know exactly why people can’t stop talking about it. Back in 2020, a high school girl and her boyfriend started getting disturbing, anonymous texts that wouldn’t stop.

And the story takes a wild, completely unexpected turn when authorities figure out the girl’s mother is actually the one sending the messages. As you can imagine, people are all having the same, universal reaction: UTTER SHOCK.

Netflix / @lauramargaritaaaa / tiktok.com

They’re also saying this documentary is just as buzzworthy as Tiger King was during the pandemic.

@daniellemalachie9 / tiktok.com

So now TikTokers are recording their friends’ and family’s reactions to watching the reveal, and the videos are getting a ton of attention on the platform.

@daniellemalachie9 / tiktok.com

These reaction videos are racking up tens of millions of views, so we’ve rounded up some of the most viral ones…

@daniellemalachie9 / tiktok.com

Let’s start with this reaction that has over 17 million views. @daniellemalachie9 shared this video of their loved one intently listening while eating their dinner…

@daniellemalachie9 / tiktok.com

Only for them to be gobsmacked finding out it is the mom. “I know you lyin’. The fuck?”

@daniellemalachie9 / tiktok.com

The guy in @always_ashleep’s video was so sure it was one of the students’ teachers…

@always_ashleep / tiktok.com

But his reaction upon hearing who it really was is: “GET FUCKED.”

@always_ashleep / tiktok.com

And the one @ashleyehazelwood caught on camera might be one of my favorites…

@ashleyehazelwood / tiktok.com

The man’s body doesn’t move, but his face (and the dog’s) says it all. He manages to get out, “No fucking way. What? That just gave me chills.”

@ashleyehazelwood / tiktok.com

A reaction that will forever live on.

@ashleyehazelwood / tiktok.com

@muvamillie._2’s mom had a look of horror, too…

@muvamillie._2 / tiktok.com

“It was her? I know you lyin’. Why would you do that to your own daughter?”

@muvamillie._2 / tiktok.com

Another dog perks up in this reaction video by @alexsanchez6…

@alexsanchez6 / tiktok.com

“Really? Oh my god, why?”

@alexsanchez6 / tiktok.com

@bubblegumshrimps’s mom had a lot to say after finding out…

@bubblegumshrimps / tiktok.com

She goes on expressing a lot more, but the gist is: “Oh man, wow. Your own daughter?”

@bubblegumshrimps / tiktok.com

The enjoyment @kalireed369’s loved one was having while eating his meal was cut short here…

@kalireed369 / tiktok.com

“Woah. Wow. No shit.”

@kalireed369 / tiktok.com

@hi.hatttt’s mom doesn’t stay cozy for long after finding out…

@hi.hatttt / tiktok.com

“NO. This is a joke, right? All this shit, and it was her mother?”

@hi.hatttt / tiktok.com

Here’s another mega viral one with over 7.5 million views by @erinpwingfield…

@erinpwingfield / tiktok.com

“I honestly thought that a minute ago, and then I thought, ‘No, it’s not the mama.’ Are you fucking kidding me?”

@erinpwingfield / tiktok.com

@_krysinthecity recorded her sisters’ reaction…

@_krysinthecity / tiktok.com

Which left them both gasping, unable to speak.

@_krysinthecity / tiktok.com

The dog was even worried for them.

@_krysinthecity / tiktok.com

@the_pettyfamily’s mother-in-law was left in complete disbelief…

@the_pettyfamily / tiktok.com

“Shut up. Are you serious?”

@the_pettyfamily / tiktok.com

Then we have @therealmorganalexis who shared this one of their parents before…

@therealmorganalexis / tiktok.com

And then, after, when they both exclaimed that they knew it had to be a parent or an adult.

@therealmorganalexis / tiktok.com

So, if you haven’t seen the documentary yet, we are certain the shock element will still be there even if you know who the catfish is. If you’ve already seen it, let us know what you thought in the comments.

@daniellemalachie9 / tiktok.com