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Australian breakdancer Raygun, also known as Rachael Gunn, recently gave her first TV interview since her infamous performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her routine, which went viral for all the wrong reasons, became one of the most talked-about moments of the event.
While many people reacted to her breakdancing performance, one particular reaction stood out: American TV host Jimmy Fallon’s sketch on his late-night show.
In her interview on The Project, Raygun opened up about how she feels about all the attention, especially from Fallon, and how she’s handling the intense criticism. She also shared insights into her future in breakdancing and the mental toll the experience has had on her.
Raygun’s breakdancing routine at the Olympics was supposed to be her big moment on the world stage. Instead, it quickly turned into something she described as a “weird dream” after the performance didn’t go as planned.
Raygun became the center of internet jokes and memes, and celebrities like Adele and Snoop Dogg even commented on her routine.
The moment that brought her even more attention was when Jimmy Fallon, on his late-night show, did a sketch making fun of her. In the sketch, fellow comedian Rachel Dratch interrupted Fallon’s monologue, dressed in an Australian Olympic uniform similar to the one Raygun wore during her performance. Dratch then mimicked Raygun’s dance moves, exaggerating the quirkiest parts of the routine.
While many found the sketch funny, Raygun admitted that she hasn’t watched it yet. She shared that she’s still processing the whole situation and has mixed feelings about the attention, especially from Fallon. “I don’t know whether to, like, hug him or yell at him!” she joked.
Raygun admitted that although the sketch brought her more attention, it has been challenging for her to process. “A few people have explained it to me and given me their takes on it, but I haven’t watched it myself. I’m still working through how I feel about it,” she said.
Raygun’s journey since the Olympics hasn’t been easy. After her performance, she received a warning from an Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) official that her routine had sparked a storm of reactions on social media. They advised her to stay off the internet, but the scale of the reaction still caught her off guard.
“After I finished, my media liaison from the AOC told me, ‘There’s a bit of a storm brewing on social media, you might want to go off socials.’ I didn’t really understand how big it was until I started seeing some comments,” she shared.
Raygun admitted that the backlash made her feel sick and overwhelmed. “I started getting this feeling of, ‘Oh no, what has happened?'” she recalled.
The breakdancer also shared that she hasn’t been able to watch her Olympic performance back. “That’s not unusual for me, though,” she explained. “I’m not great at watching my battles. I’ve seen little bits and pieces, but I’ll watch the whole thing eventually.”
Despite the criticism, Raygun has sought professional mental health support to cope with the situation. She also made the decision to completely step away from social media in order to protect her well-being.
“I got some mental health support pretty quickly,” Raygun said. “I also went off social media, went off the internet, and that helped. But it’s been up and down. It’s still hard to process all of it.”
Raygun believes that part of the backlash she received was due to a general lack of understanding about breakdancing and its various styles. While her performance was seen as a failure by many who watched it, she explained that within the breaking community, her style wasn’t shocking at all.
“People aren’t very familiar with breaking, and there are so many different approaches to it,” she said. “You have athletic-style breakers, and you have artistic-style breakers. Both are valid.”
Raygun also pointed out that the chair of the Olympic breaking judges, MG, stepped forward to explain that her routine wasn’t as out of place as some may have thought. “It was so fantastic that MG came out the next day and clarified that what I did wasn’t shocking in the breaking community,” she added.
However, the public’s lack of understanding of these nuances in breakdancing led to a flood of negative reactions, not just toward Raygun but also toward her husband and family. The conspiracy theories and personal attacks were particularly alarming for her.
“It’s been pretty rough,” she admitted. “The vitriol directed toward me and my family has been scary.”
Taking a Step Back from the Spotlight
As Raygun reflected on the whirlwind of attention and backlash following the Olympics, she expressed that she has no interest in staying in the public eye for much longer. Even though some believe her viral moment could lead to more TV opportunities, Raygun isn’t eager to pursue them.
“I don’t think I’ll be competing for a while,” she revealed. “I’m not really looking to stay in the spotlight. Breaking, competing—it’s not something I want to continue right now.”
Raygun also clarified that her spot on the Olympic team was earned fair and square, addressing rumors and conspiracy theories about how she got there. “I didn’t know any of the judges beforehand,” she said, firmly dismissing any claims of favoritism.
Despite everything, Raygun looks back on the experience with mixed emotions. “It’s been nice in some ways, but it’s also been hard to process,” she concluded. “It’s a lot to take in.”
Raygun Responds to Olympic Breakdancing Controversy
Conclusion: Key Takeaways from Raygun’s Experience
Mixed Reactions: Raygun is still coming to terms with the mixed emotions of being mocked by Jimmy Fallon but acknowledges the massive platform it gave her.
Mental Health Focus: Raygun sought mental health support and stepped away from social media to deal with the overwhelming negativity.
Misunderstood Performance: Raygun believes the backlash is due to a general misunderstanding of breakdancing and its different styles.
Taking a Break: Raygun plans to step back from the spotlight and has no immediate plans to compete or stay in the public eye.
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