"Yall need benadryl to see the hat man?" — Internet reacts to couple's viral Halloween costume
With Halloween right around the corner, costume ideas for the spooky festival have started to feature on social media platforms. One image of a couple dressed as the Benadryl ad went viral on X (formerly Twitter).
On October 28, 2024, X user @elaifresh posted a still from a TikTok video showcasing a woman wearing a t-shirt with the cough syrup brand's name written on it and her partner dressed as the Hat Man hugging her from behind.
As per the Rolling Stone article dated November 2022, the Hat Man is usually referenced as a hallucination occurring by the abuse of DHP or diphenhydramine, which is the active ingredient in cough syrup.
Internet users were quick to react to the Halloween couple's costume idea and took to X to express their opinions on the same. Commenting on being able to see the Hat Man, an X user tweeted:
"yall need benadryl to see the hat man???????????? ive been seeing that man and his friends since i was 7..."
"Omg I took a trazodome once and saw something like this, it freaked me out so bad I got refused to take anymore!" an X user commented
"I’ve never had him with a hat. My sleep demon kind of looked like Space Ghost (Coast to Coast) while on melatonin. 👻 Although I did see a black figure in the corner of my room on Benadryl the night we had an earthquake here. Fun times at 19! 😆" another X user mentioned
"I don't see him when I'm awake on Benadryl. But them dreams! The dreams I have on benadryl? This guy would be welcome." an internet user stated
Moreover, some internet users mentioned their experience of not being able to see the Hat Man:
"i think yall are just cursed cause i never seen this hat man yall talk about when i take benadryl" an X user stated
"exacttlllyyyy…i take like 6 benadryl at a time and have never seen mr. hat man. i’m beginning to think everyone is being a diva" another X user tweeted
"i used to see him as a child and i never took no medicines i just seen the shadow in the middle of the night" an internet user commented
"I love Benedryl. Gives me the best sleep. Now I get why I didn’t understand this costume." another internet user said
What is the Benadryl Hat Man? Details explored
According to Rolling Stone, people started sharing stories of strange visions with similar descriptions in the late 2000s. The consistent stories of the vision comprise a tall silhouette of a man wearing a brimmed hat. The presence of the Hat Man tends to appear when one is in bed at night, mostly between consciousness and sleep.
As per Drugs.com's description of the Hat Man:
"The Hat Man is a fictional figure that started appearing on certain internet sites in the early 2000s that has recently been referred to as the “Benadryl Hat Man” after reports of people hallucinating and sighting him after overconsumption or abuse of Benadryl."
The website states that most reports describing the Hat Man appeared on Reddit or the image-based website 4chan. In addition to being a hallucination of the abuse of cough syrup, the Hat Man is also associated with the abuse of any mind-altering substance taken in excess. There is also a mini-documentary on YouTube about the illusion being associated with sleep paralysis.
As per WebMD, possible side effects of diphenhydramine in cough syrup include constipation, upset stomach, blurred vision, dry throat/nose/mouth, and drowsiness. The website advises that if any of the mentioned side effects last or worsen, it is ideal to consult a doctor.