If you were on the internet in July 2022, you probably remember the collective scream that went up from TikTok. One minute you’re scrolling past a dance trend or a recipe for whipped coffee, and the next, you’re staring at something that looks like a biological hazard. It was Howie Mandel. Or rather, it was a video posted by the America’s Got Talent judge that nobody—absolutely nobody—was prepared to see.
The phrase "is this covid related howie mandel" has since become a permanent fixture of internet lore. It's a verbal shorthand for that specific brand of "what did I just look at?" confusion. But for those who missed the initial blast radius, or for those who still have questions about how a clean-freak comedian became the face of a graphic medical meme, the story is actually weirder than the video itself.
The Video That Broke the Internet (and Some Spirits)
Let's be blunt. Howie Mandel posted a video of a rectal prolapse.
It wasn't a medical diagram. It wasn't a blurry, far-away shot. It was a high-definition, up-close image of a severe rectal prolapse. In the video, Howie’s voice narrated the scene with a surreal, almost clinical detachment. He said, “When my friend Neil bent over, this happened. Does somebody know… is this COVID-19 related? And if it is, what do we do about it? Ow.”
TikTok is usually pretty strict about its Community Guidelines. Usually, if you post a video with a swear word, you get shadowbanned. Yet, for some reason, this graphic medical emergency stayed up for hours. It racked up millions of views before the moderators—or perhaps Howie's own PR team—realized that maybe, just maybe, an elderly man's internal organs shouldn't be the main event on the "For You" page.
By the time it was deleted, the damage was done. "Neil" became an overnight legend. Howie became a meme. And the question "is this covid related" became the ultimate punchline for literally anything out of place.
Why on Earth Did He Post It?
People were baffled. Howie Mandel is famously a germaphobe. He has been open for decades about his struggle with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and his intense fear of pathogens. So why would the guy who refuses to shake hands post a video of... that?
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Honestly, the explanation he gave later was almost as confusing as the post. During an appearance on the 2 Bears, 1 Cave podcast with Tom Segura and Bert Kreischer, and later on the H3 Podcast, Howie tried to explain himself. He basically claimed he didn't realize how graphic it was.
Wait. Seriously?
Howie said he thought it looked like a "wet cake" or something abstract. He told Ethan Klein that he just thought it was a "weird thing" and wanted to know if it was a symptom of the virus. Remember, in 2022, people were still discovering weird side effects of COVID-19, like "COVID toes" or loss of taste. Howie, in his own chaotic way, was apparently "just asking questions."
But most people don't buy the "wet cake" excuse. If you look at the video, there is no way to mistake what it is. The more likely reality? Howie has a very dark, very impulsive sense of humor that sometimes bypasses the "should I post this?" filter.
The "Is This Covid Related" Meme Legacy
The internet did what it does best: it took a traumatic event and turned it into a joke.
The phrase "is this covid related" started appearing everywhere.
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- You see a car crash? "Is this covid related?"
- Your cat knocks over a vase? "Is this covid related?"
- The H3 Podcast crew turned it into a "sound drop" that they play whenever something slightly gross or confusing happens.
It’s a perfect meme because it captures the absurdity of the early 2020s. We were all hyper-fixated on symptoms. We were all slightly losing our minds from isolation. And then Howie Mandel—the voice of Bobby from Bobby's World—decided to show us "Neil."
There’s a specific psychological phenomenon here, too. When we see something that truly shocks us, humor is the primary defense mechanism. We laugh because we don't want to think about the fact that we can't "un-see" what we just saw.
What the Medical Experts Actually Say
Just for the record, in case you were genuinely wondering (like Howie supposedly was): No, a rectal prolapse is not a known symptom of COVID-19. According to medical resources like the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins, a prolapse usually happens because of:
- Weakened pelvic floor muscles.
- Chronic straining (constipation).
- Aging or previous surgeries.
- Neurological issues.
While COVID-19 can cause gastrointestinal distress, it doesn't typically lead to your internal organs staging an escape through the exit door. So, to answer Howie's original question: No, it isn't related. And what do you do about it? You go to a surgeon, not TikTok.
The Aftermath for Howie's Brand
You’d think a stunt like this would end a career, especially for someone who works on family-friendly shows like AGT. But Howie Mandel is sort of "uncancelable" in a weird way. He leaned into it. He didn't hide. He went on podcasts, laughed about it, and even mocked the backlash.
He even parodied Colleen Ballinger’s infamous "Toxic Gossip Train" ukulele apology video by doing his own version about the prolapse. It was meta, it was weird, and it worked.
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The incident actually helped him pivot from "traditional TV host" to "chaotic TikTok grandpa." He realized that the younger generation on social media doesn't want polished content; they want the "unhinged" energy that a 60-something millionaire posting a prolapse provides.
What We Can Learn From the Chaos
So, what’s the takeaway here?
First, the internet never forgets. You can delete a video in four hours, but it will live on in "re-uploads" and Reddit threads until the heat death of the universe.
Second, the line between "curiosity" and "oversharing" is very thin. Howie’s OCD might make him hyper-aware of health issues, but social media rewards the shock factor over the health concern every single time.
If you're ever tempted to post something "weird" you found online, maybe take a beat. Ask yourself: "Is this covid related?" If the answer is no, and it involves a friend named Neil, just keep it in the group chat.
Next Steps for the Curiously Traumatized:
- Check your privacy settings: If you're a public figure, maybe have a "second pair of eyes" before hitting post on TikTok.
- Understand the "Streisand Effect": Trying to hide or delete something often makes it 10x more famous.
- Support creators who are honest: Howie’s openness about his OCD is genuinely helpful, even if his TikTok feed is a nightmare.
- Don't search for the original video: Trust me. You don't need to see it. The meme is better than the reality.
Ultimately, Howie Mandel taught us that no matter how famous you are, you're only one "Share" button away from traumatizing the entire world. It's a reminder that the digital world is a wild, unregulated place where a germaphobe comedian can become the king of "prolapse-tok" in a single afternoon.
Actionable Insight: The next time you see something online that feels "too much," remember that the phrase "is this covid related" is your new best friend for diffusing the tension. Use it wisely. Use it often. Just don't ask Neil for a demonstration.