What Is the “I Wish I Had a Free Bag of Chips” TikTok Trend?

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Meme, Brainrot, and Slang Content Creator Tobi Nwodo explains the meaning & origin of the viral trend

Co-authored by Marcus Pruitt, BS Reviewed by Candace Gasper

Last Updated: January 29, 2026 Fact Checked

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Have you ever seen someone loading a vending machine and wished they’d give you some free chips? TikTok certainly has! A new meme has gone viral, in which users post videos saying, “I wish I could get a free bag of chips,” in hopes the worker will give them some. Read on to learn more about this meme, where it comes from, and whether it actually works, with insights from Meme, Brainrot, and Slang Content Creator Tobi Nwodo.

Explaining the “I Wish I Could Get a Free Bag of Chips” Meme

Meme, Brainrot, and Slang Content Creator Tobi Nwodo says “I wish I could get a free bag of chips” is a TikTok meme where people beg for something, usually chips, by saying “I wish I could get a free bag of chips” as they record a worker stocking the vending machine.

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What is the “I wish I could get a free bag of chips” meme?

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“I wish I could get a free bag of chips” is a meme of people begging for chips. “The meme refers to a video posted by creator @parlaynemm,” Nwodo says. “In the video, a man is changing out a vending machine, and the creator starts begging for a free bag of chips.”^{[1]
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Expert Source

Tobi Nwodo
Meme, Brainrot, and Slang Content Creator

Expert Interview} After @parlaynemm’s video went viral, users have been posting their own videos passively asking for things. “This has become a trend with people asking for free bags of chips from people changing out vending machines,” Nwodo explains.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Tobi Nwodo
Meme, Brainrot, and Slang Content Creator

Expert Interview}
- They may say “I wish I could get a free bag of chips” themselves, or use the audio from the original video. Some users get their chips, while others are ignored.^{[3]
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- Nwodo says the trend has now expanded beyond just bags of chips, with people asking for things like expensive bags or money.^{[4]
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  Tobi Nwodo
  Meme, Brainrot, and Slang Content Creator
  
  Expert Interview}
- On November 18, 2025, TikToker @manny.dunn0 filmed himself in front of a vending machine worker stocking the chips. He said, “I wish I had a free bag of chips,” and the worker asked, “What kind of chips?” before giving him a bag.
- On January 7, 2026, @quashaymonnae posted a TikTok saying, “I wish I had a free bag of chips.” The vending machine stocker responded with a quick side-eye before happily tossing her a bag.
- On December 29, 2025, @alexis_fugitaspam posted a TikTok switching up the meme, using the “I wish I could get a free bag of chips” sound on a video of flowers to show how much she wanted a bouquet.
- On November 21, 2025, @troyshammy posted a TikTok of him asking a stocker for a free bag of chips as they were coming off their truck. The stocker was quick with it, throwing him a bag as soon as he finished talking.
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Tobi Nwodo is a meme, brainrot, and slang content creator based in Los Angeles, CA, with 9+ years of experience. His goal is to educate and entertain his audience by explaining the newest slang, memes, and brainrot characters.

Section 2 of 3:

Origin of the Free Bag of Chips Meme

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In the original video, which was uploaded on September 9, 2025, TikTok user @parlaynemm filmed a vending machine worker stocking up the chips. He told the worker, “I wish I had a free bag of chips,” but the worker ignored him. The cadence he used to say “chips” got the video a lot of attention, with people emphasizing it and spelling it “chipssss” and “chipsssuhhh.”

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Does asking for a free bag of chips actually work?

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It all depends on how the vending machine worker is feeling. If they’re feeling generous, they may give you a free bag of chips and go on about their day. But if they’re worried about getting in trouble, only have a certain amount of chips, or they’re just having a bad day, they may ignore or deny your request. Still, it can’t hurt to ask!