Internet in Hysterics at Man's Shock Wake-Up Reaction: 'Hostage Situation'

A video of a young girl pranking her brother-in-law through karaoke has gone viral on Instagram. The video, posted by @themacfamilyy, has received over 900,000 likes since it was shared on February 2. It shows the poster's younger sister waking up her brother-in-law—the poster's husband—by singing Miley Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A.". The video begins with the poster's sister, Kayla, turning on the music in front of the camera before picking up a microphone and walking to her sleeping brother-in-law, Victor. Victor begins stirring almost immediately.

Kayla jumps on the bed singing the lyrics to the famed 2009 song, emphasizing the "Whoa" in the first verse by yelling it closer to Victor's face. He wakes up and asks: "You know what time is it, Kayla?" It is at this point that viewers latched on to Victor's desperation, as he sees the camera and submits to his fate as a participant in the prank. He begins singing along, waving his hands half-heartedly.

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"OMG the way he starts singing along like it was a hostage situation and he had no other choice, but he was clearly terrified ... I lost it when he started singing that's so funny," @exclusivemama wrote. "Man saw the camera and realized this was a hostage situation," @salmaeliela wrote. "Why Victor look like he being held at gun point ... #freehim," @trippy_dasies said. "OK, so are you up, Victor?" Kayla said. "I'm up," he replied. Kayla's choice of song is timely given Miley Cyrus' recent success at the Grammy Awards on February 5. The singer won Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for her song "Flowers". But "Party in the U.S.A." was one of the pop star's earliest—and most famous—hits. The song was certified 13 times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2020, while appearing on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Cyrus received a plaque for Diamond certification by the RIAA for "Party in the U.S.A.," a rare achievement. Viewers of the video noted the song choice with laughter, some even hoping it would reach Cyrus herself. "Got a lil white girl standing on his bed above him screaming Miley Cyrus, I'd comply too," @oatmak_ wrote. "Omg I can't stop crying and laughing ... this is so good. I hope this can reach @mileycyrus," @marianlorenzotv said. Once Kayla had proper confirmation—through song—that Victor was awake, she had demands. "Get out of bed!" she yelled. Victor complied, tumbling out of the bed and onto the floor.