The “Sorry, I won’t be walking the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show this year” trend is one of October’s funniest TikTok formats, tracked by SocialBee in its October 21, 2026 round-up. The viral joke has creators apologising, as if personally invited, for not walking the famous runway — then giving a ridiculous excuse.
Typical excuses are mundane, oddly specific or gloriously petty: a dentist appointment, a laundry pile, a pet that needs attention, or simply a refusal to leave the house. The humour comes from pretending that walking the show was ever a genuine possibility.
Viewers love the format because it is self-deprecating without being sad. It says: I know I was not invited, and I am going to act as if turning it down was my choice, for the silliest reason I can think of.
Why fake invitations are so funny
According to SocialBee, the joke works because of the gap between the glamorous event and the ordinary excuse. The bigger the event and the smaller the excuse, the funnier the video feels.
The format is also easy to personalise. Every creator’s excuse is different, which keeps the trend fresh even as hundreds of versions appear.
A trend for everyone, invited or not
Fashion week content usually belongs to models and celebrities, but this trend hands it to everyone. Office workers, students, parents and pets have all “declined” the invitation in their own versions.
As fashion season continues, expect more apologies, each one more ridiculous than the last. The trend is a reminder that the internet’s favourite fashion statement is often not a runway look at all — it is a joke about never being on the runway in the first place.
