What Is the Bad Times Trend? The TikTok Argument, Explained

The Bad Times trend is a TikTok lip-sync to “BAD TIMES” by Imael Angel, acted out as a dramatic argument with whoever is holding the phone: head in hands, a “hold on” palm, a shrug, then a lunge at the lens with a finger pointed and a hand cupped to the ear. The AI version, often called the Bad Times AI trend, gives that role to a pet. An AI video shows a cat or a dog standing on its hind legs and doing the same moves. On Bad Times AI you can make one from a single photo of your pet or yourself.

Where the Bad Times Trend Started

The trend goes back to French TikTok creator BOUUH YACHAKA (@bouuhyachaka). On August 20, 2026 she posted a close-up lip-sync to the song, which had about 20.7 million views when checked on October 19, 2026.

On September 9, 2026 she posted a second take, this time filmed full-length in her kitchen, with the caption “Ça va barder!!” (roughly “there’s going to be trouble!”) and a red “DISPUTE” label, French for “argument”. That kitchen video had about 18.9 million views when checked on October 19, 2026, and it’s the routine every AI version copies.

The Song Behind It: “BAD TIMES” by Imael Angel

Imael Angel is the stage name of Bernadett Gángó, a Hungarian songwriter who is also a Reiki practitioner (Songfacts). “BAD TIMES” came out as a single on March 30, 2026. It’s a deep house track about holding on to your self-worth when times are tough, and you can watch the official video on YouTube. According to Songfacts, she writes her lyrics and “uses AI tools to develop them into full songs”.

The song entered the UK Official Singles Chart in October 2026 and peaked at No. 67 by mid-October, according to Official Charts.

The Moves, Beat by Beat

The kitchen take runs as one continuous shot, and the routine goes in this order:

1. Both hands pressed to the head in disbelief.
2. A half turn to the side, hand on hip, the other palm raised toward the lens (“hold on”), head turned away.
3. Both palms pushed out at the camera (“stop, stop”).
4. A big shrug, then a stride toward the camera.
5. A lunge until the face fills the frame, pointing at the lens and pushing a palm at it, mouth wide open as if yelling.
6. A lean back with a wide-eyed glare and a hand cupped to the ear (“what did you say?”).

Why Cats and Dogs Took Over the Trend

From about mid-September 2026, creators started posting AI versions in which a pet, cats and dogs most of all, does the whole routine standing upright. A few that stand out:

• A French bulldog by @guyvsgirlfriend, posted September 15, 2026, as a head-and-shoulders close-up.
• A tabby cat by @shalunts_art, posted September 22, 2026, with about 2.5 million views when checked on October 19, 2026.
• A black shepherd dog by @tillandsialover, posted September 22, 2026, with about 10.9 million views when checked on October 19, 2026.
• A ginger cat by @catv1025, posted September 23, 2026, captioned “I had to join the trend 😂🐱”.

The routine is built from big, easy-to-read gestures, and it’s funnier when they come from an animal that has clearly had enough of the person filming. Besides cats and dogs, you’ll find other pets, people doing the routine themselves, and close-up face-only versions. Tags seen on posts include #badtimes, #imaelangel, #badtime, #ai, #cat, #dog, #trend and #viral.

How the AI Version Is Made

A Bad Times AI video isn’t cut from the original TikTok, and it doesn’t paste anyone’s face into it. An AI video model (on this site, Seedance 2.0 Mini by ByteDance) films a brand-new clip from your photo and a written description of the routine.

What comes from the trend:

• The moves, in the order above. The 6-second version keeps the head in hands, the “hold on” palm, the lunge and point, and the hand to the ear.
• The setting the AI is asked for: a bright home kitchen, filmed on a phone from a couple of steps away, in one continuous shot. Sometimes the AI keeps the background from your photo instead.
• A generated deep-house-style instrumental beat with no vocals or lyrics. The real song isn’t in the video; you add the “Bad Times” sound when you post.

What comes from your photo:

• Who stars in it: you, or your cat, dog or any other animal.
• Their looks: the face, fur and features of whoever is in your photo.
• For pets: they stand up on their hind legs and use their front paws as hands. It’s AI, so each take comes out a little different.

Make Your Own Bad Times AI Video

Upload one photo in the Bad Times AI generator, choose 6, 10 or 15 seconds (6, 13 or 20 credits), and your video is usually ready in a few minutes as a 720p vertical MP4. For photo tips and posting advice, read how to make a Bad Times AI video.

Join the Trend Responsibly

• Use your own photo or your pet’s, or get permission before putting someone else in a video.
• Everyone shown must be 18 or older. Don’t use photos of celebrities, politicians or other public figures.
• Label your clip as AI-generated when you post it.
• The song belongs to its rights holders. Add it from the TikTok or Instagram Reels sound library instead of uploading your own copy.

Bad Times Trend FAQ

Who started the Bad Times trend?

French TikTok creator BOUUH YACHAKA (@bouuhyachaka) started it with a close-up lip-sync posted on August 20, 2026. Her kitchen “argument” take from September 9, 2026 is the version the AI pet clips copy.

What song is used in the Bad Times trend?

It’s “BAD TIMES” by Imael Angel, the stage name of Hungarian songwriter Bernadett Gángó, released as a single on March 30, 2026. In the app, look for the “Bad Times” sound by Imael Angel.

Is Bad Times AI the official app for the trend?

No. Bad Times AI is an independent site and isn’t affiliated with Imael Angel, BOUUH YACHAKA, TikTok, ByteDance or Instagram/Meta.

Does the AI video lip-sync to the song?

No. The video comes with an instrumental beat, and your pet or you act out the routine with the mouth wide open as if yelling, not in sync with the lyrics. You add the “Bad Times” sound yourself when you post.