Woman asks guests for gossip instead of gifts on her birthday — it turns into the ultimate 'tea' party

Most people look forward to their birthdays because of the celebration, attention, and, most of all, the thrill of unwrapping gifts. But Cayla DeRegis didn’t want any of that this year. Instead, she asked her friends for something a little more unhinged: to bring 'a piece of gossip.' She shared a video of the night on her Instagram @rayesofsunshine, which was later shared by Betches Media (@betches), and judging by the reactions in every frame, she got exactly what she asked for.

As seen in the video, facial expressions moved from open-mouthed gasps to eyes wide with delight to hands covering faces in shock, all while laughter echoed behind the camera. In every shot, someone’s jaw is dropping, a drink is stuck mid-air, or someone is practically doubling over trying to stay quiet and let the tea be poured. The video went viral, reaching millions and has been liked by over 400,000 people. The comments were just as enthusiastic, with people fully invested in knowing what the juicy intel was.

@interestedparties commented, "What a girl wants. What a girl needs. Whatever keeps me happy sets you free." @unih789 wrote, "I didn’t know this was even an option!! Hell yes!!" @ohbrietee said, "Seeing her mouth the 'I cannot' is all I need to know the night was a success." @jennamontano added, "Wait, that's genius. Also feels cruel that we can’t hear any of it, lol." @charliescraft commented, "Lmfaooooooooooo omg I'm doing this [for my] next birthday. Such a great use of free will." @mrs_tinamaria asked, "Why would you do something so controversial yet so brave?"

@veggi.princess quipped, "Like every girl, she dreamed of a tea party for her birthday." @ kay_rogue chimed in, "Not me turning the sound on to hear the tea. Disappointed." @kalynstagram_ shared, "I’m a hairstylist in the town I grew up in, every day is my birthday by this logic." @liberianhoneyy wrote, "As a society, we should stop buying things and start telling things. Over-consumerism is killing our planet." While DeRegis' unique request might have seemed like a fun, chaotic twist on a birthday tradition, it turns out gossip actually has social benefits.

The Scientific American article "The Science of Gossip: Why We Can’t Stop Ourselves" explains that gossip is actually a powerful social tool rooted in human evolution. It helps people bond, build trust, and regulate social behavior by reinforcing group norms and exchanging information about others. Gossip can act as a kind of social glue, allowing individuals to form closer relationships and stay informed about their community.

While Cayla’s party was praised for its creativity and connection, another birthday story sparked a very different kind of conversation — one filled with confusion, criticism, and questions about etiquette. A woman faced backlash online after her friend shared a party invitation that asked guests to pay nearly $500 to attend. Posted on Reddit, the invite listed prices of "$499 for a friend" and "$250 for a guest," leaving people stunned. Though the reason for the high cost wasn’t clear, some speculated that it could have been a disguised fundraiser, as the birthday girl had recently been elected to the city council and bought a new home. 

You can follow Cayla DeRegis (@rayesofsunshine) for more daily-life and Betches Media (@betches) for more funny girl content.