Where to Find the Chubby Filter on TikTok — And Why It’s Gone Now
- Aditya Agarwal
- May 2
- 4 min read
A viral TikTok AI filter, widely known as the “chubby filter”, has been pulled from the platform after widespread criticism and growing backlash. The AI-driven filter, developed by CapCut (owned by TikTok’s parent company ByteDance), used artificial intelligence to alter users’ faces, making them appear as though they had gained significant weight.
While the TikTok chubby face filter initially gained popularity with thousands of users posting before and after videos for laughs, many others called it out for promoting body shaming, reinforcing toxic beauty standards, and fueling eating disorders.
🔍 How to Find the Chubby Filter on TikTok (When It Was Live)
When the filter first launched, here’s how users were applying it:
Open TikTok and tap the magnifying glass.
Search for: "Chubby filter" or "AI weight gain filter".
Tap any video using the effect.
You’d see "CapCut - Makes You Chubby" above the username.
Tap it → tap "Use this template in CapCut".
Apply your photo/video and export.
But now, when you try those steps — the filter is missing.
What Is the TikTok Chubby Filter and Why Was It Banned?
The CapCut chubby filter took a static image or video and used AI to generate a version of the user with a visibly larger face and body. Despite being packaged as lighthearted fun, critics were quick to highlight the damaging implications for users’ mental health, especially among teens and young adults.
After an investigation by the BBC and growing concerns from body-positive creators, TikTok confirmed that the filter was being removed from the platform. The company stated it is now reviewing all videos that used the effect, blocking them from teen accounts, and making them ineligible for recommendation.
TikTok also reiterated that any content breaching community guidelines — including bullying or harassment — would be removed.
'This Filter Promotes Body Shaming and Toxic Diet Culture'
Creators like Sadie, a body-positive TikToker with over 66,000 followers, said she was relieved by the decision to ban the filter.
“Social media should be a fun, safe space — not somewhere that makes people feel ashamed of their appearance,” she told the BBC.
Sadie noted that several women had messaged her saying the filter made them feel so uncomfortable they deleted TikTok from their phones altogether.
Health experts also warned of the psychological impact such filters can have. Dr. Emma Beckett, a nutrition scientist, said the filter reinforced harmful stereotypes linking weight with laziness or unattractiveness.
“This is a huge step backward for body image on social media,” she explained. “It pushes toxic diet culture and increases the risk of eating disorders, especially in young, impressionable users.”
TikTok’s AI Filters: When Fun Becomes Harmful
AI filters on TikTok are no longer just fun tools — they’re powerful visual manipulators that influence how users perceive beauty. While some harmless ones like the Lego effect or AI baby face filters go viral, others, like the chubby filter, raise serious concerns.
Nina, a user from Wales, said the filter made her feel like her real-life body type was “the punchline.”
“We’re sending the wrong message to millions of young people — that being ‘chubby’ is something to joke about or fear,” she said.
Another creator, Emma from Ayr, said the filter essentially made her feel like her body wasn’t acceptable.
“It was heartbreaking to see people saying the ‘after’ version looked disgusting,” she shared. “That’s what I actually look like. What message does that send to others like me?”
How Harmful Filters Slip Through TikTok’s Algorithms
Even though users didn’t search for it, the chubby filter videos began appearing in the TikTok For You page algorithm, amplifying their reach. This raised red flags about TikTok’s content recommendation system, especially since many viewers hadn’t interacted with weight-related or health content.
As users engaged with the trend — even just by watching or commenting — the platform began showing similar filters, including AI effects that make users appear thinner.
The Bigger Problem: Unrealistic Beauty Standards Online
Social media filters like the TikTok weight gain filter promote unrealistic beauty standards, encouraging users to compare themselves not just to influencers, but to digitally-altered versions of themselves.
These filters distort reality and reinforce a damaging link between appearance and self-worth. Experts argue they may contribute to long-term mental health issues, especially among teenagers who are already vulnerable to social comparison.
🔍 Key Takeaways: Why the TikTok Chubby Filter Removal Matters
The chubby filter on TikTok was removed due to backlash over body shaming.
CapCut, the AI tool behind it, shares ownership with TikTok via ByteDance.
Critics say the filter promoted toxic diet culture, eating disorders, and negative body image.
TikTok AI filters are powerful — and not always harmless.
The platform has promised to review all related content and protect younger users from exposure.
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