A user on TikTok went viral for a reason far from gastronomic. In her video, seemingly innocent, she cooks live crabs in an air fryer. What seemed to be just another recipe ended up generating a wave of repudiation on social media.
The scene starts with common ingredients: corn, potatoes, seasonings. However, the content takes a dark turn when two live crabs are placed directly into the device at 200°C. For 15 minutes, they are seen struggling in a slow and painful death.
The video, far from going unnoticed, received millions of views and generated hundreds of reactions on TikTok. Many labeled it as an act of cruelty broadcasted with impunity to entertain and gain views.
Despite the massive rejection, the algorithm favored its virality. The outrage did not stop its circulation; on the contrary, it multiplied.
A video exposed the cruelty that crabs endure when they are cooked.
Background: gastronomy, cruelty, and legality
The consumption of crab is deeply rooted in the culinary tradition of many regions, especially on the East Coast of the US, where dishes like blue crab boil are popular. However, behind the taste lies a brutal reality.
In the gastronomic industry, crabs are often cooked alive, as it is believed that their meat degrades quickly after death. This practice, normalized for years, has been questioned by science and the animal rights movement.
Recent studies show that crabs have complex nervous systems, capable of processing pain, and exhibit self-protective behaviors when injured. Yet, in countries like the United States, they do not have legal protection against abuse.
In contrast, the European Union has begun to formally recognize their capacity for suffering. Some nations already prohibit boiling or cooking live crustaceans without stunning them first, a step towards greater ethical regulation of animal consumption.
Despite these differences, the legal loophole still allows acts that, although morally questionable, are not punishable, especially when it comes to invertebrates like crabs.
Social media and the spectacle of crab suffering
The viralization of this type of content shows a concerning trend: the trivialization of animal suffering in exchange for digital attention. Similar cases multiplied on different platforms.
Recent reports from British agencies highlight an increase in cases of animal cruelty recorded on social media. Young people between 16 and 17 years old report having seen these acts frequently on TikTok, Instagram, and X.
There have even been legal cases linked to abuse for the sake of virality. In some cases, the perpetrators deliberately cause harm only after reaching a specific number of viewers.
The paradox is that, while humans react with horror, many animals do not enjoy any effective legal protection. And when the acts are not punishable, the spectacle of suffering remains available, just a click away.
Blue crab. Photo: Wikipedia.
A button that cannot be undone
Chels’ video—already dubbed as “the lady of the fried crabs”—is just one of many. Although it received harsh criticism, there were no legal consequences. In the end, she promised to cook her crabs outdoors. Whether that reduces suffering or simply improves the lighting for recording is a mystery.
Social media turned the slaughterhouse into content. And while the legal realm has not yet reached the ethical one, the audience keeps watching.
