What Does 'Grip Reaper' Mean? The Slang Term And Meme Explained

Within comment sections across TikTok and Instagram, a new slang term has emerged used to describe e-girls. It's called a "grip reaper." It's most often spammed beneath a video, usually of a young woman who is super quirked up in an almost nauseating way. Her quirkiness is a signifier, to some men, of a hidden trait of hers that is the "grippiest."

In essence, the nickname "grip reaper" is a way to describe how "tight" a woman is. This might be obvious to some who know what "grip" means and have a certain foreknowledge of its effects. However, the tricky part to understanding this meme and slang term is, what does being quirky have to do with it? How does quirkiness affect one's grip?

This meme dates back a few viral videos ago, when one woman from Chicago started it all. Let's explain.

Who Is The 'Chicago Grip Reaper?'

As stated, the term "grip reaper" started because of one video and one woman. In fact, many already know of her due to an entirely different meme. Her name is Chloe Woodward and she's known online as ChloeLMAO. Chloe first went viral on Vine in the early days of the app's existence for a video known as "Who Is She?"

Flash forward to the 2020s and Chloe looks a lot different. She has bleach blonde hair, a liberal arts degree and an OnlyFans, effectively making her an ex-Vine star. She still maintained a following on Instagram and Twitter going into her 20s and one time, she uploaded a video while sitting in a Chicago park.

Hey! Does anyone want to come over to my house- Oh, I forgot! You can't! You can't come to my house because no one can ever come to my house because I live in a middle place between world and time… I'm just kidding guys. I live in the old city of Chicago [incomprehensible noises]."

Her original Instagram video was reposted by many meme accounts, eventually landing on TikTok in 2022. A TikToker named @bruhwastakenwastaken reposted the video and earned millions of views as well as thousands of comments. One of the comments read, "dis da chicago grip reaper💀."

Something about Chole's rapid delivery that tinged on the most schizo of internet-pilled shawties gave off the impression of a "grip like glue" to these male commenters. This gut feeling from the men that alludes to a mass perception of "art girls" everywhere was then mixed with the concept of the "Chicago Grim Reaper," which was an actual nickname given to drill rapper Lil Reese.

Since the comment section of that one TikTok video, the comment sections of any mildly ditsy girl are filled with "grip reaper" and its many variants. At the end of the day, the nickname is both creepily invasive, oddly flattering and deeply embedded in meme history.

For the full history of the grip reaper, be sure to check out our entry on the slang term here for even more information.