For years, we’ve been hooked on celeb secrets and scandalous moments – from gossip mags to paparazzi pics.
But now, there’s a new source giving us an even closer look: the TikTok lip reader.
With over 1.5 million followers, Nina Dellinger has become one of the leading figures in the lip-reading trend.
Why are we obsessing over lip readers on TikTok?
Starting out in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown, Nina posted her first lip-reading video, and it quickly gained traction.
Initially, her content focused on regular TikTok users, but soon requests began flooding in for her to read the lips of high-profile public figures, from Hollywood stars like Taylor Swift to political figures like Donald Trump.
“I think that people love it because they get to imagine a celebrity couple talking together or how these celebrities go about and discuss things with each other as they attend events and stuff. I think it just gives people a bit of insight, even if we’re not correct,” Dellinger said.
Dellinger said her research shows professional lip readers can catch 20 to 40 per cent of a full phrase or sentence.
“I do truly believe that if I have the right to liberate anyone, it would be a politician who is working to serve the government or the country,” she said.
However, the rise of lip-reading content has raised ethical concerns. Some public figures have requested that certain videos be taken down due to privacy or safety reasons.
Dellinger herself has complied in a few cases, respecting requests for content removal.
“Someone not wanting a name out there, and I respected that because that was a personal situation.”
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