Piratecore Is the Latest Queer Subculture to Go Big on TikTok

You’ve heard the sea shanties, and you’ve seen the cottagecore aesthetic take over TikTok. Well now get ready for piratecore, the charmingly queer TikTok subculture where everyone has a piratesona and is 100% ready to fight, but only if you’ve got a sword.

So far, it’s being lead by the bisexuals, or rather, the #birates (we are a people known for our love of puns, and actually, pirates, after all). Check out a few of the examples below, where TikTokers transform into pirate characters.

@anxietybutfashion
Yall asked for this #birates #pirates #gay #lgbt #RaiseYourGame #IGotTheMusic #MakeupRoutine #MorningCheer #dndoc #dnd #dungeonsanddragons
♬ The Banjo Beat, Pt. 1 – Ricky Desktop

@moonchild101001
yet another attempt at posting this and seeing how long it before tiktok takes it down #fypシ #foryou #pirate #piratesofthecaribbean #piratetiktok
♬ original sound – myra

@smallpuppethands
I understand why you need more than one person to get into a corset… 🧜‍♀️ #birates #biratetiktok #lgbt #bisexual #pirate #fyp #foryou #foryoupage
♬ The Banjo Beat, Pt. 1 – Ricky Desktop

http://www.tiktok.com/@kelseyellison/video/6874221263770979585?is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v2&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6794819339087496705

There are some fierce lesbian and other LGTBQ+ crews out participating in piratecore as well.

https://www.tiktok.com/@fallenfromgrace_17/video/6871670785119931654?lang=en&is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v2&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6794819339087496705

https://www.tiktok.com/@pickles.for.lunch/video/6872093691759185158?lang=en&is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v2&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6794819339087496705

https://www.tiktok.com/@annelurve/video/6870678892043046149?lang=en&is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v2&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6794819339087496705

Some are busy setting up entire role-play communities.

https://www.tiktok.com/@momsamess/video/6870647958484913414?lang=en&is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v2&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6906130418048845317

https://www.tiktok.com/@mysticmerakis/video/6869835425956039941?is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v2&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6794819339087496705

https://www.tiktok.com/@niceonejames/video/6869495892831980806?lang=en&is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v2&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6906130418048845317

While others are playing a character largely by themselves, with the occasional duet or two.

https://www.tiktok.com/@kraeje/video/6904274654131784961?is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v2&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6794819339087496705

https://www.tiktok.com/@lunartic_tjs/video/6870651381636697349?is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v2&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6794819339087496705

@pickles.for.lunch
social cues? what? #darkstarpirates #pirates #lesbianpirate #piratecore #pirateoc #lesbian
♬ original sound – nohandleybars

There’s also a surprising, or perhaps unsurprising, intersection with vampires and vampire TikTok. Pirates and vampires do tick off a lot of the same aesthetic notes, after all.

@madi.is.manic
A pirate or a vampire? #piratecore ?? #vampirecore ???? #bisexualtiktok ?????
♬ –

@kay.laine
Reply to @dabbingshenanigans this is my final form #fyp #foryou #vampire #pirate #vampirecore #piratecore #vampirate
♬ original sound – MK

There’s also crossovers with some other regions of TikTok too, including Viking TikTok. Who knew that pirates would make such a comeback in 2021?

Piratecore TikTok is here—and it’s delightful

Pirate culture is alive and well on the app.

Siobhan Ball