 "Australian breakdancer Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn breaks her silence on online hate: ‘Devastating’ – Firstpost")
Raygun’s kangaroo-like movements and his tracksuit with the Australia logo have been parodied around the world, including by US late-night host Jimmy Fallon.
read more
Australian breakdancer Raygun has spoken out against the “pretty devastating” hate unleashed online since her widely derided performance at the Paris Olympics. Rachael “Raygun” Gunn, a 36-year-old university lecturer in Sydney, was mocked by some and cheered by others for her unique performance in Paris, in which she failed to win any of her three competitions against other B-girls.
In a video from a Brussels street that Gunn posted on her Instagram account on Thursday, she thanked her supporters and said she was happy to bring them some joy.
“I didn’t realize that this would also open the door to so much hate, which was, frankly, quite devastating,” she said.
“So, I went out there and had fun. I took it very seriously. I worked my ass off preparing for the Olympics and gave it my all. Really.”
Gunn’s kangaroo-like movements and his tracksuit with the Australia logo have been parodied around the world, including by US late-night host Jimmy Fallon.
She was subjected to far greater criticism and ridicule on the Internet.
The Australian Olympic Committee has condemned a “misleading and intimidating” online petition that called Gunn’s performance “unethical” and questioned the reasons for her selection for Paris.
“In regards to the allegations and misinformation circulating, I would like to ask everyone to please consider AOC’s recent statement,” Gunn said in her video.
The Change.org poll, which had collected tens of thousands of signatures calling for a public apology from the dancer, was not available on the platform on Friday.
Gunn said she plans to stay in Europe for a few weeks for a “pre-planned break.”
In the meantime, she asked the media to stop harassing her family, friends and the breakdancing community.
“Everyone has been through a lot because of this, so I ask you to respect their privacy,” she said, promising to answer further questions upon her return to Australia.
Gunn’s Olympic bid has been met with approval by many, including her fellow Australian Olympians, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this week praising her for “giving it a go”.
Breakdancing will not be on the program at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in four years.
