A man’s desperate plea for attention after arguing with his girlfriend has left the internet in stitches.
Antonia Perlinger, 22, (@antoniaperlinger) filmed how her partner, Samuel Shavin, 27, sits in silence and plays dramatic songs until she gives in to him, in a video which has garnered 1.2 million likes and 5.1 million views on TikTok.
“The night before, we had a little argument, so the next morning we were feeling kind of upset. As a result, Sam likes to lighten up the mood in a very funny and overdramatizing way. It lightens up the mood and also helps us both overcome negative feelings,” Perlinger, a florist and barista from Tel Aviv, Israel, told Newsweek.
In the video, filmed by Perlinger from a floor above her partner, Shavin is seen sulking alone while blasting the ultimate sad song, “All By Myself.” He briefly glances up at his partner before returning to his melancholy gaze into the distance.
Screengrabs of Samuel Shavin in a sulk. The boyfriend plays dramatic songs while sitting in silence until his girlfriend gives him attention.
@antoniaperlinger/@antoniaperlinger
“My personal drama queen,” Perlinger captioned the video.
According to Perlinger, Shavin’s dramatic displays started once they grew more comfortable around each other. “He is a very funny person and loves to act up and be dramatic. He also loves acting and putting himself into different characters.
“The events that lead to these sessions vary. Sometimes he does it out of boredom or because he is in an entertaining mood. Sometimes it also happens after an argument or when we’re not feeling good.”
Perlinger said that Shavin will keep up his act until he gets her attention, a hug, or a kiss. Humor, especially in relationships, can be a powerful tool for diffusing conflicts.
According to HelpGuide, humor helps people step away from the emotional intensity of an argument, creating space for both partners to reconnect on common ground, helping couples deal with issues in a lighthearted yet meaningful way.
However, using humor as a coping mechanism can become unhealthy when used to avoid, rather than address, painful emotions like hurt, fear, anger, or disappointment.
“It automatically lightens up my heart and mood. I love the way he carries himself and that he can also laugh about himself and act dramatic. I also love the way he communicates because he can be very serious about stuff, but also very easygoing. He is my personal drama queen,” Perlinger said.
Commenters were left in hysterics over Shavin’s antics.
“Keep your head up king, you don’t deserve to be mistreated like this,” joked Patrick.
“Give him princess treatment RIGHT NOW!,” demanded another viewer. The term “princess treatment” refers to pampering someone with extra care and affection, treating them as though they are royalty .
“My bf sings very sad songs in the shower to get my attention,” one viewer related.
“The way he looked up and saw you, then didn’t say anything,” remarked Danie.
“I thought I was dramatic. Now I see I have a worthy opponent, finally,” quipped another commenter named D.
“The deep sigh hahaha,” laughed Isabella.
Perlinger concluded: “We have a very special relationship. We’re each other’s best friends and partners. We can have serious conversations and communicate about important stuff and our feelings, but also laugh with each other and act like little children.”
