How A TikTok Video Got A 23-Year-Old Her Own Subway Announcement

GREENWICH VILLAGE, NY — If the subway system is the heartbeat of New York City, then the voices of the subway announcements are our gentle leaders.

The seven-word phrase "Stand clear of the closing doors please" has been heard a countless number of times by anyone who has taken the subway.

In an unexpected series of events, a viral TikTok made by Molly Clark, 23, brought her behind the closed doors of how the subway announcements are made, and even a chance to record a subway announcement for her home station in Greenwich Village.

The journey started with a TikTok video posted in September.

@highon_molly I was so cool in college. ##fyp ##elevator ##precovid ##mta ##subway ##nyc
♬ original sound - Highon_Molly

Clark was impersonating Charlie Pellett, who is the famed, but rarely identified voice of "Stand clear of the closing doors please."

The imitation of Pellett's voice wasn't just for comedy, but it was also a form of exposure therapy to help Clark get comfortable with the trains again.

She had previously passed out while riding a crowded train and it had made her hesitant to get back on the subway, according to ABC News.

Clark posted the video imitating Pellett's voice to TikTok and it quickly went viral.

The 23-year-old NYU grad woke up the next morning to a message from Pellett's son saying that his dad saw the video and loved it. Shortly after, Pellett himself messaged Clark telling her that he thought the video was great and he even sent a voice recording of a personalized train announcement.

The MTA caught wind of Clark's video and invited her into its headquarters to record her own train announcement.

"We saw the videos and loved them, especially during COVID we hear from our customers all the time about how much they miss the system," said Kevin Call, the Deputy Communications Director for the MTA. "People do miss riding with us. And one of the many aspects that people love are the beloved voices from the announcers, Charlie being one of them."

@mta Things have come full circle for @highon_molly
♬ original sound - MTA

The MTA brought in retired subway announcer Velina Mitchell to help Clark out, and on Wednesday, the 23-year-old heard her voice for the first time make a train announcement at her home 14th Street 1, 2, 3 station in Greenwich Village.

You can check out the video of Clark hearing her announcement on ABC News.