If you have spent any time on TikTok recently, it is likely that you have come across Greg (@gregory.nyc). What began as a niche corner of TikTok has grown into a trend of its own, inspiring new accounts that put their own spin on the original Greg style, including one run by a Wake Forest student.
Greg Marzinsky gained attention for capturing cinematic scenes, which more often than not play alongside Taylor Swift songs. His content captures city scenes that feel straight out of a movie, especially paired with thought-provoking, emotional Taylor Swift lyrics. The comment section of Greg’s first pinned video, posted on March 12 with 1.8 million views, 9.9 million likes, and set to the song ‘loml’ by Taylor Swift, is flooded with over 2,000 comments. Many comments share a similar sentiment to “can we not today greg” (@chuer.s), with this particular comment receiving over 2,000 likes.
As more Greg-inspired accounts have appeared across TikTok and Instagram, creators have adapted the aesthetic to include scenery of their own surroundings. Wake Forest is no exception. A likely student-created account, “Greg Of Wake” (@wakegreg), brings the concept to campus and features scenes from across campus, football games, and Reynolda Village. Its most popular video reached 17.2k views and includes scenes from the Quad, including Wait Chapel, alongside lyrics from ‘The Manuscript’ by Taylor Swift, showing that Greg’s appeal extends far beyond the streets of New York.
What makes Greg Of Wake particularly entertaining is how recognizable the locations are to Wake Forest students. While the original Greg’s videos capture aesthetic yet likely unfamiliar streets of New York City, the local Greg’s videos capture the aesthetic of campus life and scenery, bringing the trend closer to home. From football games to aesthetic campus scenes, the account puts a Wake Forest spin on a concept that has reached far beyond its original audience.