A new internet theory<\/strong> has captured social media attention. Called the \u201cMormon Backflip Theory,\u201d<\/strong> it suggests that because Latter-Day Saints (LDS) youth<\/strong> are discouraged from drinking, smoking, or swearing, acrobatic stunts<\/strong> have become a wholesome yet attention-grabbing alternative for men.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Social media has exploded with examples from celebrities and everyday Mormons alike, highlighting a surprisingly widespread and long-standing trend.<\/span><\/p>\n Image credits: Benson Boone\/Shayden J. Schoonover<\/a><\/p>\n Music star Benson Boone, who was raised in a Mormon household, has made onstage backflips a trademark of his performances. His backflips are so prominent that some fans have expressed concerns about the stunt\u2019s potential risks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Boone once stated that his love for backflips, which he now considers an authentic expression of his personality and energy onstage, started after he saw his dad perform the stunt when he was a child. <\/span><\/p>\n Image credits: alyssadgrenfell<\/a><\/p>\n YouTuber and former Mormon Alyssa Grenfell<\/a> shared her thoughts on Benson Boone\u2019s backflips on Instagram. In her video, she noted that backflips are pretty common among Mormon men.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBenson Boone is not the first to perform the Mormon backflip, though he\u2019s definitely one of the most famous\u2026 But it\u2019s not just the famous Mormons or former Mormons who are doing the backflips. It\u2019s the normie Mormons, too,\u201d Alyssa said.<\/span><\/p>\n Image credits: alyssadgrenfell<\/a><\/p>\n Alyssa also shared some insider perspective<\/a> about how performing backflips became a culturally accepted way for Mormon boys to attract attention while staying within the church\u2019s strict social rules.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI grew up in the church, and I can confirm that doing a backflip is one of the classic ways for a Mormon boy to attract a mate and to simultaneously dunk on his less athletic friends. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis, put simply, is Mormon peacocking, and for me, this is the athletic version of the Mormon boy that brings a guitar to every single function he attends,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n Netizens appreciated Alyssa\u2019s context for the strange phenomenon. \u201cI\u2019m sorry but I cannot stop laughing at this wtf,\u201d one commenter wrote on X.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019re a teenager and you can\u2019t get drunk, the thrill of possibly breaking your neck doing a back flip is the next best thing,\u201d wrote another.<\/span><\/p>\n Benson Boone is not the only artist<\/a> to make the Mormon backflip a trademark. Brendon Urie of Panic at the Disco also made headlines by performing the risky stunt onstage for years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Brendan also grew up Mormon, though his backflips were also the result of hard work with trampolines and skateboards.<\/span><\/p>\n Image credits: NBC<\/a><\/p>\n While he is also no longer a practicing<\/a> Mormon, Urie still shared his respect for the LDS church. One of Panic At the Disco\u2019s songs, <\/span>Say Amen (Saturday Night)<\/span><\/i>, which appeared on the album <\/span>Pray of the Wicked<\/span><\/i>, was an homage to the Mormon faith.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFor us, Saturday night was the preparation for the Sabbath. Spend about four hours just together reading scriptures and getting ready for the Sabbath, so for me \u2013 I don\u2019t do that anymore, I\u2019m not religious \u2013 but my getting ready for Sunday is just going hard cause I\u2019m gonna sleep in on Sunday,\u201d he told <\/span>Billboard<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Other celebrities, including those who are known to not perform backflips publicly<\/a>, have spoken about their journey with the Mormon church.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n These include <\/span>American Idol<\/span><\/i> alum David Archuleta, who stated that he left the church due to his orientation, according to Us Weekly<\/a>. Still, he noted that he left the church\u2019s structure, not its people. \u201cI would say, it\u2019s the church structure more than the people. Because the people have been amazing,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\nFormer Mormon Alyssa Grenfell recently shared a video exploring and potentially explaining Benson Boone\u2019s Mormon backflip theory<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Numerous stars have spoken about their Mormon upbringing<\/b><\/h3>\n
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