‘Do it lady!’: How Chit became TikTok’s awkward office hero

If you’ve suddenly found yourself muttering, “Do it lady!” over the past few days, you’re not alone. The catchphrase is the handiwork of office character Chit, who has become a sudden viral sensation on TikTok.

You’ve probably already seen Chit, even if you didn’t know who he was or what the character was all about. You most likely have seen the aforementioned “Do it lady!” sketch or the “black purse” joke that went super viral. The character is an awkward coworker, bespectacled and bowl-cutted, muttering mhm’s and yeahs, while also proving wildly unpredictable. In short, Chit is some strange combination of Office Space‘s Milton, The Office‘s Dwight Schrute, and a character Will Forte would’ve played on Saturday Night Live.

Here’s that famous “Do it lady!” sketch, which launched a catchphrase, merch, reaction TikToks, and, yes, fan edits. It’s racked up nearly 10 million views.

And here’s the “black purse” sketch, which has nearly 27 million views.

The skits take place in an office setting, and there is a pretty consistent story that plays throughout the handful of TikToks we’ve gotten thus far. (We’ve basically been building up to coworker Janice’s birthday this whole time.) All the while, Chit is reliably nerdy and awkward, which often creates funny misunderstandings. In other words, it feels like a sitcom.

The real person behind Chit — and what’s become known as The Chit Show — is Jay Renshaw, an improv comedian with The Groundlings in LA. Renshaw told USA Today that he created the character six years ago but has loved seeing its growth since he began posting on TikTok barely more than a month ago.

“I think equally delightful is seeing just how many audiences Chit has reached and touched,” Renshaw told the paper. “Just when I think [Chit] sort of extended his reach as far as it’ll go, I find out there’s a whole different demographic that is also loving Chit just as much. It’s been this strangely universal thing, which [has], I think, been maybe the most rewarding part of it.”

New Chit episodes are released three times per week, and the response has been overwhelming. Look around TikTok, and you’ll see folks talking about Chit, making Chit-focused edits, or playing around with the “Do it lady!” catchphrase.

So if you’re suddenly inundated with Chit, you’re not alone. As they say, Chit happens.