Dylan O’Brien’s Nipple Pinch in ‘Twinless’ Sends LGBTQ+ Internet Into a Frenzy

A scene from the recently released indie film "Twinless" has rapidly become the internet’s latest cultural fixation, and it’s not hard to see why. In a raw, intimate moment, Dylan O’Brien—best known for his roles in "Teen Wolf" and "The Maze Runner"—stands shirtless and emotionally exposed as his character, Roman, asks Dennis (played by writer-director James Sweeney) to “Pinch my nipple.” The request, delivered with vulnerability and a touch of awkwardness, has electrified LGBTQ+ social media, prompting waves of thirst, memes, and endless replaying of the now-viral clip.

Dylan O'Brien e James Sweeney em Twinless.
https://t.co/fSy2WxsTm0

— CINEMA 505 (@CINEMA505) October 5, 2025

Within hours of the film’s digital release, users on X (formerly Twitter), Threads, and TikTok began sharing gifs, clips, and reactions. “This clip of Dylan O’Brien asking for his nipple to be pinched has just gone triple platinum in my bedroom,” one fan quipped, echoing a sentiment seen thousands of times across LGBTQ+ timelines. Another summed up the mood: “Mood: iconic, unexplainable energy.” Even those who haven’t caught the film yet are gripped by FOMO, with one user tweeting, “OK I haven’t watched Twinless yet and I’m feeling more and more FOMO every single day—I’M MISSING OUT AREN’T I?”.

"Twinless" is a dark dramedy that centers on Dennis (Sweeney), a man navigating the emotional aftermath of losing his twin. He meets Roman (O’Brien) at a support group for people grieving twin siblings, and their unlikely connection quickly turns intimate. The film explores themes of grief, identity, and self-discovery through nuanced storytelling and bold performances.

Sweeney, who wrote, directed, and starred in the film, has commented on the intentional awkwardness and emotional honesty of these scenes. The chemistry between O’Brien and Sweeney is palpable, elevating the narrative from typical indie drama to an authentic depiction of queer longing and connection. The nipple pinch scene, in particular, is not merely titillating—it is emblematic of the film’s commitment to vulnerability and emotional realism.

For many LGBTQ+ viewers, the scene carries significant weight. Queer intimacy has often been marginalized, sanitized, or sensationalized in mainstream media. In "Twinless", however, the depiction is neither exploitative nor coy; instead, it presents a moment of genuine connection layered with awkwardness, desire, and emotional complexity.

The internet’s reaction—particularly from LGBTQ+ communities—reflects a thirst not just for the physicality but for the authenticity and representation embedded in the scene. “It was like the scene was tailor-made for the LGBTQ+ community to obsess over—not just for its tantalizing vibe, but for the larger context of O’Brien’s performance, which marks a noticeable departure from his ‘Teen Wolf’ heartthrob days into something far queerer and undeniably bolder,” writes Instinct Magazine.

The viral clip, which has been described as “iconic, unexplainable energy,” is now a touchstone for queer viewers seeking moments of joy, lust, and relatability amid the often heavy themes of grief and loss. The scene’s popularity is a testament to the hunger for more complex, joyful, and awkwardly human portrayals of LGBTQ+ intimacy in film.

While the scene has undeniably boosted the film’s visibility, the internet’s insatiable appetite for clips and gifs has raised questions about the ethics of sharing intimate film moments outside their intended context. Sweeney himself addressed the phenomenon: “On one hand… all press is good press, and you hope garners goodwill and awareness of the project, and that it incentivises people to show up and then see the film in theaters—especially for all those perverts. But in a macro sense, it is troubling. It feels like maybe there is an entitlement for modern audiences that everything needs to be immediately available to them and that they have the right to exploit images and art however they see fit. So I really don’t know”.

Despite these concerns, the viral spread appears to have done more good than harm for "Twinless" itself. The film has garnered increased critical attention and audience interest, translating internet thirst into ticket sales and cultural cachet.

Ultimately, the Dylan O’Brien nipple pinch in "Twinless" is more than just a fleeting viral sensation—it’s a milestone moment for queer representation in cinema. The scene’s blend of tenderness, awkwardness, and sexuality has resonated deeply with LGBTQ+ viewers, igniting conversations about what authentic queer intimacy can look like on screen.

As the LGBTQ+ community continues to push for more visibility and authenticity in media, "Twinless" stands out as a film unafraid to depict the strange, beautiful, and sometimes hilarious realities of queer desire and connection. Whether audiences are drawn by O’Brien’s star power, Sweeney’s writing, or the promise of “the scene,” the film’s impact on queer cinema—and internet culture—is undeniable.