Never underestimate what Black content creators have to. go through in regards to having their ideas stolen and culturally appropriated for mainstream consumption.
Jimmy Fallon is under fire for a segment on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in which Addison Rae teaches the late-night talk show host a series of TikTok dances, such as the ones of Cardi B’s “Up” and Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage” However, many people on social media took Fallon to task for having a white woman who didn’t create any of the dances that she performed, showcase viral TikTok dances that were primarily created by Black creators.
This would have been the perfect opportunity for you to lead by example and in giving Black creators their due credit. This opportunity could have been huge for them. But no, you chose to display a white girl who’s already got a damn career doing this shit. This sucks, do better
— ????Nintendo Bratty Switch???? (@ginfueledbrat) March 28, 2021
This is why I bang on EVERYBODY about the economics and race of social media
“Tik tok dances”
the names of the artists not there
The actual choreographers not there
She’s on national television but where are the Black kids who actually made these https://t.co/jSdMMBbQu0
— ????????????Sydette Dread Gorgon ???????? ???? (@Blackamazon) March 28, 2021
This is cringey. But what’s worse is that Addison has been catapulted to being the face of viral dances created by mostly black tiktokers https://t.co/t4cDsoTQ8l
— Tanya Chen 陈天依 (@tanyachen) March 28, 2021
I think Black creators should just stop creating content for like a good 6 months and just observe what these people come up with https://t.co/xJiXRnUdcX
— Annalise Keating (@Ariannnyy_) March 27, 2021
The fact they have no idea how offensive this is, is sickening. This is systemic racism at its finest. This white women is benefiting from a broken system & was highlighted on national TV, while the choreographers & actual artists that made the songs weren’t even mentioned smh https://t.co/6e4Iw3NDj8
— TYE (@WhosTYE) March 28, 2021
In the segment, Fallon holds up a series of cue cards with the names of each TikTok dance, while Rae displays the dance moves to each one.
Given that Fallon failed to mention or give credit to the Black creators behind the dances, the segment was criticized for not having the Black creators come on to display them.
Folks like Charli and Addison aren’t creators, yet one is getting a Hulu show on her life & the other is going to star in a Netflix film.
Stan Black creators who start trends that dominate TikTok —Jalaiah Harmon, Jean-Victor Mackie, Keara Wilson, Evan Stewart, Kara Cannella etc
— Trey Mangum (@treymangum) March 28, 2021
As reported by the Los Angeles Times, the proper attribution for the dances are as follows:
- “Do It Again” (recorded by Pia Mia, choreographed by @noahschnapp)
- “Savage Love” (recorded and choreographed by @jasonderulo)
- “Corvette Corvette” (recorded by Popp Hunna, choreographed by @yvnggprince)
- “Laffy Taffy” (recorded by D4L, choreographed by @flyboyfu)
- “Savage” (recorded by Megan Thee Stallion, choreographed by @keke.janjah)
- “Blinding Lights” (recorded by the Weeknd, choreographed by @macdaddyz)
- “Up” (recorded by Cardi B, choreographed by @theemyanicole)
- “Fergalicious” (recorded by Fergie and will.i.am, choreographed by @thegilberttwins).
The backlash also comes as Rae and Charli D’Amelio were invited to perform at NBA All-Star Weekend to do the “Renegade” dance, which was popularized and choreographed by Jalaiah Harmon.
