Steve Burns from 'Blue's Clues' offers silent comfort amid US election results in latest viral video
Steve Burns from the children's television series Blue's Clues checked in on his followers the day after the 2024 US elections, where Republican Donald Trump has reclaimed victory.
In his 59-second video on TikTok posted on Nov. 6, the actor seemed to find solace in a quiet outdoor moment. He brought out two mugs and placed one down as he sipped from the other. The sounds of nature provided a serene backdrop for his video.
At the end of the clip, the 51-year-old actor acknowledged his viewers with a nod and a deep breath.
The post has since garnered 4 million views, 796k likes, 26.2k comments, and 45.1k shares as of writing.
@hioutthereitsmesteve ♬ original sound - hioutthereitsmesteve
Fans poured out their heartbreak in the comments, with one saying they're scared.
"Everything feels so heavy today," wrote another one.
"[C]an we please go sit in the thinking chair and think, think, think about what tf we're gonna do now," wrote one more, referencing Steve's thinking chair from Blue's Clues.
Another one said he "didn’t even say anything," instead, he "just cried."
"He didn’t say A WORD and said everything at the same time. This man should be guarded at all costs and I also want to marry him lol," said one more.
A day before, Steve also posted another TikTok video asking his followers how they were.
"Hello," he said. "What's going on out there? How are you?"
Throughout the remainder of the video, he patiently listened to his followers' responses, much like he would on his old show.
This isn't the first time Steve has offered a virtual check-in with his fans. A few months ago, he gained significant online attention for a video where he invited viewers to share their thoughts and experiences.
He told Today that the silence in Blue's Clues inspired him to create similar moments in his content.
"I want to see if that was possible. None of us thought that it would have the impact that it did, and we were so surprised," he said, explaining that he was inspired by Fred Rogers' "listening philosophy."
"When we pay attention, we’re making an investment in someone else. And that’s the basis of compassion, in a lot of ways," he said. "I worry that these TikToks are making me seem like a therapist or someone who has some kind of greater understanding. My hope is that I just come off as a fellow passenger on the struggle bus, an ally."
