[imagesource:wikicommons]

Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have spawned some strange trends in the last few years, but these days there seems to be a new, more bizarre one each week.

The latest global trend involves throwing a Mexican discount pharmacy mascot, called Dr Simi, at celebrities as they strut their stuff onstage. Why do you ask? Why not? seems to be the most plausible answer. It all started in Mexico when fans began pelting performers with the doll.

Over the past 15 months, Mexican fans have bombarded the concerts of everyone from The Killers and Miley Cyrus, to Rammstein with Dr. Simi dolls in an odd viral trend that has taken the live music industry by storm.

Quite why a budget-drugstore stuffed toy became the projectile of choice for adoring fans is unsure, but since the trend began, Lady Gaga, Harry Styles, The Killers and even The Beebs have come under fire while performing in the country. The trend has now spread globally and some fans, like Alejandro Flores, travelled all the way to Budapest with a Dr Simi doll in his bag, just so he could throw it at My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way during a show in the city.

Dr Simi is a very recognizable figure in Mexico and most Mexicans are familiar with the giant stuffed figurine in the doorway of  Similares Pharmacies, a low-cost dispensary found throughout Mexico.

The trend was reportedly started by 20-year-old Avril Vega, who on her way to the 2021 Corona Capital festival, stopped off at a Similares Pharmacy for some sunscreen. She bought the mascot on a whim after seeing him in line, and as one does when attending a music concert, wanted to throw something at the artist, which in this case was Dr. Simi. Too far away to throw it, the doll was passed on through the crowd until someone came within striking distance and let rip. Thus a new trend was born.

Similares Pharmacies are probably smiling from ear to ear because of the free publicity. After all, it’s not every day that your mascot shares the stage with some of the biggest stars in the world. We suppose it is a good thing that their mascot wasn’t a brick, but there are a billion teens hoping to make it big on TikTok by way of starting a new trend, so maybe next week we may yet see a ‘catch a brick with your face’ trend? Fingers crossed.

Until then, have a look at Dr Simi’s stage crashing:

@vicenews This is how Dr. Simi, a mascot for a chain of pharmacies in Mexico, became and international superstar. 🚀 #drsimi #drsimichallenge #rosalia #harrystyles #ladygaga #dualipa #mexico #similares #mexicana #cinia ♬ original sound – VICE News

[source:vice]