NEWS
Dr. Dre has called out the Olympics over this year’s breakdancing competition, taking issue with the performance of one athlete in particular.
2024 was the first year that breakdancing, one of the foundational elements of Hip Hop culture, was featured in the Olympics. And the dazzling athleticism of b-boys and b-girls from around the world was on display, the contest was somewhat overshadowed by the bizarre antics of Australia’s Rachael “Raygun” Gunn.”
Reacting to the inaugural Olympics breakdancing competition in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Dre said: “I did not like that. It’s so many great breakdancers that I don’t know why they had this particular person doing that.
“It was funny, I got some laughs out of it, but what the fuck? […] There are incredible breakdancers out right now; I don’t know how that happened.”
Earlier this week, Raygun spoke out after going viral for her widely ridiculed performance at the Paris Olympics, which saw her fail to perform any traditional breakdancing moves and instead flop and roll around the floor.
The Australian athlete failed to score a single point during the competition but defended her performance from online mockery.
“What I wanted to do was come out here and do something new and different and creative — that’s my strength, my creativity,” she said to ESPN.
She also seemingly acknowledged her lack of talent in the sport, saying: “I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best, the dynamic and the power moves, so I wanted to move differently, be artistic and creative because how many chances do you get in a lifetime to do that on an international stage?”
There were plenty of viral videos made of Gunn’s performance, with one dubbing commentary from Peter Griffin in Family Guy over the footage.
Another viewer compared one move she did to the Grinch creeping around.
Even Pete Rock chimed in on her moves, joking on social media: “Ooohhh sh%# [shocked emoji] Wait, that bunny hop kangaroo sh%# she was doing took me way down to floor [laughing emoji] this is so messed up.”
Others echoed Dr. Dre’s disapproval, with R&B singer India.Arie writing on Instagram: “sigh … an art created by young black and brown people in the bronx is NOW an Olympic sport and this POORLY EXECUTED EXCUSE FOR THE ART ~ is being praised. this is yet another insult to artists And artists of color. this is why we’re exhausted.”
Raygun, who possesses a PhD in dance, lost all three of her one-on-one contests by a total margin of 54-0.
Japan’s Ami Yuasa took home the gold medal in women’s breakdancing, while Canadian b-boy Philip “Phil Wizard” Kim emerged victorious in the men’s.
Perry Farrell has released another public apology following an on-stage confrontation involving his bandmate Dave Navarro.
The Jane's Addiction frontman was involved in a physical altercation with guitarist Dave Navarro last year during a live performance, an incident that prompted the band to cancel their reunion tour and eventually led to their split.
“I'd like to address what happened on stage last year,” Perry, 66, said in a statement shared across both his personal Instagram account and Jane's Addiction’s official page. “I've reflected on it and know I didn't handle myself the way I should have. I apologize to our patrons and my bandmates for losing my temper and for disrupting the show.”
He went on to admit that he did not meet fan expectations and described himself as deeply remorseful toward everyone impacted by the incident.
“Jane's Addiction has been at the center of my life for decades. The band, the songs, the patrons, and the impact that we've had on music and culture mean more to me than any words I could ever possibly write down,” he shared.
“My aim has always been to give our audience the best possible show, something real, honest and positive. In Boston, we fell short of that, and I'm truly sorry to everyone who was impacted.”
Jane's Addiction also issued its own statement regarding the altercation, which ultimately led to the group’s remaining members filing a lawsuit against Perry alleging assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract.
“Today we are here to announce that we have come together one last time to resolve our differences, so that the legacy of Jane's Addiction will remain the work the four of us created together,” the band wrote, signaling that the group would not move forward with Perry. “We now look forward to the future as we embark on our separate musical and creative endeavors.”
