Delaware woman claims she mistook her AirPod for a vitamin. Then she tracked progress until the AirPod reappeared

A Dover, Delaware, social media creator says she accidentally mistook her Apple AirPod for a vitamin, swallowed it, and then posted real-time updates online as she said she waited for it to pass naturally. Her story joins a list of viral AirPod mishaps that have circulated across social media in recent years, including cases involving accidental ingestion.

In her initial video, the creator, SpotMeBestie (@spotmebestie), described what happened. She noted that especially when you’re distracted, the two items, a vitamin and an Apple AirPod, look similar at first glance.

She followed that post with a series of updates on TikTok, providing new details as she continued to piece together what she believed had happened. Viewers commented and speculated in real time.

Swallowing AirPods: Not an uncommon risk

Later posts indicated the AirPod eventually reappeared. Her updates revealed the device had been recovered. She did not provide independently verified details about how it resurfaced.

The incident adds to a growing number of AirPod-related stories that have gained attention on TikTok. Those include reports of accidentally swallowing AirPods, confusing them with vitamins.

In 2021, Carli Bellmer (@iamcarliiib) shared she swallowed an AirPod, mistaking it for an 800mg Ibuprofen. In her follow-up videos, she explained that she realized she swallowed it because her phone suddenly connected to the AirPod, according to the Daily Star.

Afterward, she tried to record a voice text to a friend to explain what happened. The phone used the AirPod’s microphone while it was in her stomach, resulting in an inaudible recording.

Also, that year, a Massachusetts man named Brad Gauthier accidentally swallowed an AirPod in his sleep. He woke up unable to swallow water normally and had to have it medically removed via an emergency endoscopy, The Guardian reported.

In 2023, a Utah real-estate agent named Tanna Barker also swallowed her husband’s AirPod Pro. She said she thought it was a vitamin and shared the experience on social media, per Business Insider.

Apple’s support materials note that AirPods are small, lightweight, and designed for frequent removal. This could plausibly explain the likelihood of these stories during daily routines such as commuting or exercise.

AirPods pose a severe risk because they contain lithium-ion button batteries, which stomach acid can compromise. If a leak occurs, it can cause devastating internal chemical burns or tissue damage in just a few hours. Because of this rapid timeline, medical guidance recommends that anyone who swallows an AirPod or a similar object seek immediate medical attention.