It was late August in 2020. The world was already feeling pretty heavy, what with the pandemic and the general sense of global exhaustion. Then, a single post appeared that literally stopped the internet in its tracks. You probably remember where you were when you saw it. It wasn’t a joke from Elon Musk or a political firebrand's latest rant. It was the announcement that Chadwick Boseman, the man who brought T'Challa to life in Black Panther, had passed away from colon cancer.
That post remains the most liked tweet ever.
Honestly, it’s not even close. While most viral moments on the platform—now officially called X, though almost everyone still calls it Twitter—fizzle out after 48 hours, this one became a digital monument. As of 2026, it sits at roughly 7.5 million likes. Think about that. That is more than the entire population of some small countries hitting a single heart button.
The Story Behind the Most Liked Tweet Ever
When the tweet went live on August 28, 2020, at around 7:00 PM, nobody knew Chadwick had even been sick. He’d been filming Marshall, Da 5 Bloods, and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom between surgeries and chemotherapy. The tweet was a shock. It included a beautiful black-and-white photo of him smiling, paired with a statement from his family.
Within 24 hours, Twitter’s official account confirmed it had surpassed the previous record. They called it "a tribute fit for a King."
The engagement wasn't just about "celebrity news." It was a collective outpouring of grief. People weren't just liking it because they liked the actor; they were using that button as a way to pay respects. It was a digital wake. You saw tributes from everyone—Barack Obama, Marvel co-stars, and millions of kids who had finally seen a superhero who looked like them.
What’s the Current Leaderboard?
If you’re wondering who else is in the running, the list is a weird mix of billionaire jokes, political milestones, and K-pop. Here is how the top of the mountain looks right now:
- Chadwick Boseman (7.5M+ Likes): The announcement of his passing.
- Elon Musk (4.6M+ Likes): His joke about buying Coca-Cola to "put the cocaine back in."
- Greta Thunberg (3.9M+ Likes): Her legendary clapback to Andrew Tate about "small dick energy."
- Barack Obama (3.9M+ Likes): His 2017 quote of Nelson Mandela: "No one is born hating another person..."
- Joe Biden (3.8M+ Likes): "It's a new day in America," posted on his inauguration day.
It’s kinda fascinating to see the contrast. You have the most liked tweet ever being a somber, deeply human moment of loss, followed immediately by Elon Musk talking about soda ingredients.
Why This Record is So Hard to Break
You'd think with more people on the platform and the way algorithms push viral content now, someone would have topped it by now. But it hasn't happened. Part of that is because the "like" button on X has changed its meaning over time.
For a tweet to hit 7 million likes, you need a perfect storm.
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First, you need universal recognition. Not everyone follows BTS (though their fans, the ARMY, account for an incredible 16 of the top 30 most liked tweets). Not everyone follows American politics. But almost everyone knew the Black Panther.
Second, you need "The Moment." The most liked tweet ever happened during a time when we were all stuck at home, glued to our screens. Our digital lives were our only lives. That concentrated the attention in a way that’s harder to replicate in 2026, where the audience is more fragmented across TikTok, Reels, and whatever new app just launched.
The BTS Factor
We have to talk about BTS. If any group is going to eventually challenge the record, it’s them. Jungkook and V have tweets that routinely sail past 2 or 3 million likes just for posting a selfie or a short video of them dancing. Their engagement is terrifyingly efficient.
But even with the ARMY's massive voting power, they haven't touched the 7 million mark. Why? Because celebrity fandoms have "ceilings." A BTS tweet is liked by BTS fans. A Chadwick Boseman tweet was liked by everyone.
The Weird Science of Viral Engagement
It’s not just about how many followers you have. Elon Musk has over 220 million followers, yet his most liked tweet "only" has about 4.6 million likes. That means less than 3% of his followers actually liked that specific post.
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On the flip side, when the Chadwick Boseman tweet went out, the account had a fraction of that following. It went viral "outside the building." It broke through the walls of the app and reached people who don't even use social media.
Basically, the most liked tweet ever is less about the platform and more about a global cultural shift. It was the moment we all realized that a hero we thought was invincible was actually human, and he was fighting a battle we knew nothing about.
Looking Forward: Will the Record Fall?
Will we ever see 10 million likes? Honestly, maybe not on X. The platform has become more polarizing under Musk's ownership. Half the users are looking for a reason to "unlike" something rather than celebrate it.
The only things that seem to generate that kind of universal "heart" click are:
- Massive, tragic news of a beloved figure.
- A cultural moment of extreme hope (like a world-ending event being averted).
- A truly historic political shift.
If you want to track these stats yourself, you can use X's advanced search. Just type (from:username) min_faves:1000000 into the search bar. It’s a fun rabbit hole to go down if you want to see what actually moves the needle in the 2020s.
For now, the crown stays in Wakanda. The most liked tweet ever serves as a reminder that even in a place as chaotic as social media, a message of grace and strength can still outshine the noise.
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Actionable Insights for Content Creators
- Authenticity Wins: The most liked tweets aren't the ones with the most hashtags; they are the ones that feel raw and human.
- Context is King: Viral success is often about when you post, not just what you post.
- Simplicity: Every single tweet in the top five is short. Don't overexplain. Let the image or the core sentiment do the heavy lifting.
- Monitor Trends: Use tools like X Analytics or third-party trackers to see what's currently spiking, but don't force a viral moment—it usually backfires.
The digital landscape is always shifting, but the staying power of Chadwick’s final message proves that real impact isn't measured in impressions, but in how many people felt moved enough to reach out and click that little heart.
Next Steps for You
You can actually verify these numbers yourself by visiting the @chadwickboseman profile on X. If you're interested in the data side of social media, I'd suggest looking into how engagement rates have changed since the 2023 rebrand—it's a goldmine for understanding how we consume news today.