Netizens have the hots for new ‘zaddy’, TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi, after grilling by US lawmakers

Mr Chew was fiercely questioned as he sought to protect his company from a forced sale or potential ban in the country. PHOTO: AFP

Move aside, Pedro Pascal. The Internet has a new “zaddy”: TikTok chief executive Chew Shou Zi.

The 40-year-old Singaporean may have come under intense scrutiny by lawmakers during the US Congress on Thursday, as he sought to assuage US worries over TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, but Mr Chew has captured the hearts of many netizens with his good looks.

“Zaddy”, which originated from a 2016 song by the same name from rap star Ty Dolla $ign, is an Internet slang for an attractive man who is charming, self-confident and stylish.

Across various social media platforms including TikTok, Twitter and Chinese Twitter-like platform Weibo, users have expressed their adoration for Mr Chew, who is married to Taiwanese-American Vivian Kao. They have two children.

On TikTok, users have created video compilations of Mr Chew’s photos and videos, expressing their affection for him.

“We stan Tiktok Daddy,” said a user, using the Internet slang for being excessively enthusiastic and devoted to someone.

Another user said: “Pedro Pascal getting a break for now.”

Pedro Pascal was named recently by netizens all over the world as the “Internet daddy” or “zaddy”, thanks to his good looks. PHOTO: AFP

Mr Pascal is a 47-year-old Chilean-born American actor in recent hit shows like the HBO series, The Last of Us and The Mandalorian. He was named recently by netizens all over the world as the “Internet daddy” or “zaddy”, thanks to his good looks.

Another TikTok video featured a slideshow of Mr Chew’s photos with the phrase “Zaddy TikTok” overlaid on it.

One TikTok video featured a slideshow of Mr Chew Shou Zi’s photos with the phrase “Zaddy TikTok” overlaid on it. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM UNFERRETABLE/TIKTOK

On Friday, Twitter user @puriahcarey chose to pun on his name, saying “Shou Yi Chew didn’t just chew, he ate.”

On Weibo, a few users commented on Mr Chew’s looks.

One user compared Mr Chew’s looks with South Korean celebrity actor Jung Sung-il, who stars in the hit Netflix series The Glory.

One user compared Mr Chew’s looks with South Korean actor Jung Sung-il. PHOTOS: EPA-EFE, NETFLIX

The user said that Mr Chew is slim and manages his figure well.

“One look and (you can tell that) he has low body fat,” said the user in Mandarin.

Another user said that Mr Chew is “so handsome” and is a “successful man”.

Mr Chew was fiercely questioned by lawmakers on Thursday during a US Congress hearing, as he sought to protect his company from a forced sale or potential ban in the country.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.