Actor and R&B icon Tyrese Gibson and his daughter Shayla have been trending across social media, thanks to a viral “My Shayla” TikTok sound.
The audio, which features Tyrese’s tearful plea from a 2017 video, has taken the internet by storm in the form of funny memes about misbehaving pets to posts about missing loved ones.
But how does Tyrese feel about his tearful 2017 moment being turned into a meme? He’s taking it all in stride—laughing along with his daughter, Shayla, during an Instagram Live session.
In the Live, Tyrese couldn’t help but acknowledge the viral trend. With a smile on his face, he proudly told viewers, “I just want y’all to know, my Shayla is right here,” as he pulled his daughter into view.
Reflecting on their bond, he said, “After all these years, that love she’s got in her heart for Dad, and that love I’ve got in my heart for her—it’s unlimited infinity [love],” he said.
Where does the My Shayla Sound come from?
While the trend has provided plenty of laughs, its origins are deeply emotional. The sound comes from a 2017 video of Tyrese tearfully pleading for custody of Shayla during a difficult legal battle.
In the clip , he cries, “Oh my, God, my Shayla, my Shayla!”
He then pleads, “This is all I got. Don’t take my baby, okay. I’ve been waiting for my baby for two months.”
@taramuzka shayla ROCKS💜 #fyp #shayla #myshayla #mashallah #💜
Adding, “I just want my baby. No one’s listening because no one’s in the court room. I’m not doing anything illegal. What more do you want from me?”
The video even shows Tyrese wearing a hoodie with the words “Shayla Rocks,” underscoring just how much his daughter means to him.
In addition to Shayla, Tyrese is also dad to daughter, Soraya Gibson, ex-wife Samantha lee Gibson.
