TikTok loves turning fun everyday items into hive-mind obsessions. Over the past months, one product has shown up in dozens of videos: the giant strawberry stool.
It’s exactly what it sounds like—a ceramic, oversized strawberry shape with a flat top, usually sold at HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, or Marshall’s.
People are styling them as quirky décor, side tables, or cheap seating. But what looks adorable on camera doesn’t always hold up in real life—literally.
TikToker warns: Do not get the strawberry stool
TikTok user Madilyn (@burntgreentoast) recently posted a now-removed cautionary video from her hospital bed. The clip has more than 3.1 million views.
“PS. [expletive] A. Do not, and I mean do not, get those decorative stools from TJ Maxx or HomeGoods,” she begins. “Like those strawberry stools, those corn stools, whatever.”
Next, she explains what happened to her.
She says, “I was leaning on it, and it literally collapsed as I was leaning on it. I cut open my shin. I cut open my thigh… I’ve been in the hospital for two days now.”
Madilyn shares that she had to get 18 stitches and can barely walk now.
She ends with a warning she hopes people take seriously: “For your own safety, do not get those strawberry stools.”
What is this trend?
The strawberry garden stool isn’t new—it’s been around for a while as a novelty ceramic chair or side table.
It’s part of a larger collection of food-themed stools, which also includes cupcakes, boba tea cups, and more.
TikTok just happens to have elevated it into a viral favorite, as it usually does.
Commenters are horrified
“‘It’s ceramic??? who is sitting on them… they’re DECORATIVE NOT REAL STOOLS,’” one person wrote.
However, a similar Amazon listing doesn’t label the strawberry stool as decorative. Instead, it says you can sit on it—though it lists a maximum weight of 200 pounds.
“My poverty saves me again,” another joked, grateful they hadn’t given in to the trend.
“My strawberry stool is quite literally right next to me while I’m watching this…” one viewer admitted, suddenly panicked.
Someone with personal experience offered this: “Girl I worked for personal injury lawyers for 3 years. Go get one. As long as the stool never had a sticker that says for decorative purposes only, novelty item or any type of caution sticker you are entitled to compensation.”
The Mary Sue has reached out to Madilyn and HomeGoods for comment.
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