The song
"Bad Times" is a deep house single by Imael Angel, self-released on 30 March 2026 on her own label, Imael Angel Records (Apple Music). How the track was produced is debated; write-ups such as Kavel's cite sources describing AI music tools, while others say the artist has not commented.
The routine
The TikTok format is a one-take argument with the person holding the phone, timed to the lyrics: a finger pointed at the lens, both hands pressed to the head in disbelief, a flat palm raised for "hold on", a head tilt and a final lunge toward the camera. Many captions credit the creator @bouuhyachaka for the version people copy.
How the AI version took off
From late September 2026, tutorials showed how to put any photo into the routine, most of them with CapCut templates. Kling, Dreamina and PixVerse versions followed, along with pet versions with dogs, cats and capybaras, and baby versions.
Timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2026-03-30 | "Bad Times" released by Imael Angel (Apple Music) |
| 2026-08-30 | Dad-and-daughter take by @benandzara, crediting @bouuhyachaka; later 43 million views (TikTok) |
| 2026-09-09 | @bouuhyachaka posts the kitchen take most versions copy; 19 million views (TikTok) |
| 2026-09-22 | First AI pet versions: a shepherd dog by @tillandsialover (11 million views) and a cat by @shalunts_art (dog, cat) |
| 2026-10-08 | Template tutorial by @mari148046, later over 3.4 million views (TikTok) |
| 2026-10-12 | Another template tutorial passes 1.2 million views (TikTok) |
| 2026-10-16 | Pet versions spread, including Kling-made dog and cat clips (TikTok) |
View counts were read on 19 October 2026.
What stays and what changes
The moves, their timing and the vertical framing stay the same. The performer changes: the face, fur, clothes and body come from your photo. The sound is not part of the video; it is added on TikTok.
Ready to try it: how to make the Bad Times AI video.