Love's true test? Why is the internet obsessed with peeling oranges

From TikTok to X, internet users believe your relationship’s health depends on oranges

After the ‘bird test’ and the ‘ketchup test,’ the ‘orange peel test’ is the latest trick in the market to check if your romantic relationship is going to last forever. Forget the building of the great Taj Mahal as a royal gesture of love or the starcrossed lovers fated to meet a tragic end.

Years after Jack from Titanic embraced a hypothermic death upon saving Rose, the internet is retiring the millennial angst of love. As relationship experts and theories crop up everywhere, thanks to social media’s ever-increasing reach, it appears the true marker of a successful romance is not on a wrecked ship, but in your own kitchen.

Gaining momentum on social media, the trend dubbed "Orange Peel Theory" is prompting users to consider small acts of service. From cleaning up spilled ketchup on a countertop to peeling an orange for your partner, these everyday gestures of care appear trivial but may be the key to a lasting relationship.

Acknowledging the underlying wisdom of the “Orange Peel Theory,” many social media users are discreetly filming their partner’s reaction to being asked to peel an orange. One of the most popular clips to emerge with over 24 million views on TikTok finds a woman asking her boyfriend for an orange.

“I really want it but I hate peeling it,” the TikToker says, only to be met with a “Tough luck buddy” from her partner much to her (and the comment section’s) dismay. “As if I don’t do enough…figure your life out, dude. It’s not all about what your man can do for you,” replies the boyfriend, before he launches into a short speech on how he’s being a “great boyfriend” by making her self-sufficient.

@shelbyywilfong

failed attempt. #fyp

♬ original sound - shelby

Per the comments section, the couple’s relationship has clearly failed the “Orange Peel Test,” with many asking the girl to “run.” The popular video clip also underscores another important facet of the theory: a partner’s willingness to peel the orange. If being asked to perform such a minor task results in an argument, that might put a big, red question mark on the whole relationship.

Conversely, another side of the internet is busy trolling the trend for idolising the bare minimum. One user on X (formerly Twitter) penned, “‘Peeling oranges,’ ‘peeling pomegranates’...I'm finding out that you guys have really low bars for people who love you.”

"peeling oranges" "peeling pomegranates"...i'm finding out that you guys have really low bars for people who love you

— kev (@MarxAfterDark) January 17, 2024

While others are suggesting better indicators of love and affection. “‘I would peel oranges for you’ but would you bookmark the page of the book I was reading when I accidentally fall asleep?” read another post. 

“i would peel oranges for you” but would you bookmark the page of the book i was reading when i accidentally fall asleep?

— ٰ (@moralgrey) January 17, 2024

According to another post, there is, in fact, another way to show one's adoration of their partner. "'I would peel oranges for you' but would you listen to me ramble about how a line in a fanfiction fundamentally altered my notion of self?"

“i would peel oranges for you” but would you listen to me ramble about how a line in a fanfiction fundamentally altered my notion of self?

— b (@wwxwashere) January 19, 2024

Whereas one X user contended peeling oranges was not a big deal at all. "The whole orange peeling thing is so funny to me cause I would literally peel an orange for anyone, even a stranger on the street if they asked me to because why not."

The whole orange peeling thing is so funny to me cause I would literally peel an orange for anyone, even a stranger on the street if they asked me to cause why not.

— Niki (@neimki) January 19, 2024

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