Teabagging became popular in multiplayer shooters like Counter-Strike and Halo. Players repeatedly crouch over a defeated opponent while the losing player’s camera moves over their body before respawning.

The term comes from a sexual act, which refers to dipping a tea bag in water. That connection led to references like Homefront’s Steam-exclusive “Tea Party” achievement.

Since crouching is a familiar mechanic, players use teabagging to mock opponents, have fun, or celebrate a victory. Taunting requires specific actions, but teabagging remains universal across games.

Earlier Halo games, from Combat Evolved to Reach, lacked a kill cam and used ragdoll physics. Players often teabagged to express themselves, whether using voice chat or playing via LAN.

Some games have kill-cam features that make players teabag the ground instead of the defeated enemy.

Red Faction: Guerrilla and some fighting games often show this when an opponent is stunned. In certain fighting games, post-match movement limits cause players to teabag in place because of collision restrictions.

Smash players often crouch at the start of a match as a gesture of respect. Online play in Smash 4 limits taunting, so many use repeated crouching instead.

Controversy

Many gamers criticize tea-bagging because it is disrespectful and linked to inappropriate meanings. The action has led to debates in competitive gaming, with some calling it unsportsmanlike. 

In response, the Killer Instinct World Cup temporarily banned tea-bagging to maintain fair play. However, top players and one of the game’s designers later argued against the decision.

They believed that prohibiting it would limit player expression and create unnecessary restrictions.

Despite the backlash, tea-bagging remains a standard action in gaming, especially in competitive matches. Some see it as playful banter, while others consider it offensive. 

Different gaming communities handle it differently; some discourage it, and others allow it without restrictions. 

The controversy continues as some players and developers debate whether it should be considered harmless or inappropriate.

Regardless of opinions, tea-bagging has cemented itself as a well-known part of online gaming culture.

In Pop Culture

The 2007 game Shadowrun introduced a secret Achievement called “Shadowrun Fever.” Players could unlock it by tea-bagging an opponent or even a teammate with the Achievement. 

Since it required interaction between players, the Achievement spread quickly, much like a viral trend. This feature made tea-bagging more widespread and encouraged players to act for in-game rewards.

In 2009, an episode of The Simpsons (Season 20, Episode 19) referenced tea-bagging in a parody of first-person shooters. In the episode, Homer and Marge play a game resembling Halo 2 based on its interface. 

While playing, they acted on a defeated opponent’s body, bringing gaming humor into mainstream television.

The 2015 fighting game Mortal Kombat X also included tea-bagging in its Achievements. Players could earn the “Trolling” Achievement by crouching 30 times during the Fatality window. 

Mortal Kombat has brutal and graphic finishers. Some players found it funny that crouching multiple times was seen as “trolling” when the game included much more intense actions.

Female Counterpart

Some gamers use the term “Clam Slamming” to describe the female version of tea-bagging. Though this phrase is standard, other names exist.

Unlike tea-bagging, which involves a repeated crouching motion, the female counterpart typically performs similarly but is less widely recognized in gaming culture.

People often talk about tea-bagging in competitive gaming, but “Clam Slamming” is not as common in mainstream discussions. Casual gamers and memes use the term more than serious competitive players.

Some gamers use it jokingly, while others argue that both actions are equally unsportsmanlike.

However, just like tea-bagging, its presence in gaming discussions shows how humor and competition influence online multiplayer culture.

Even though not every player engages in these actions, they remain widely recognized within the gaming community.