Internationally-acclaimed breakdancer speaks out on Raygun as petition for her to issue public apology grows
Tobi Omoteso, an internationally acclaimed Nigerian-Irish breaking b-boy, has spoken out at the backlash Raygun has received.
A breakdancer of internationally acclaim has spoken out in support or Raygun after her performance at the Olympics.
The sport of breaking made its first and likely only appearance at the Games in Paris and made plenty of headlines - specifically Raygun's showing.
Gunn, representing Australia, scored a zero from the judges in every one of her heats.
Her routine, which included her hopping like a kangaroo, sprinkling and writhing around on the floor like a snake, was widely ridiculed online.
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The 36-year-old's family hit out and Gunn revealed she has been left "devastated" by negative comments in an Instagram video.
The abuse and attacks have continued, with a Sky News presenter recently unloading and Leah Clark, the Australia breakdancing treasurer in Queensland, criticising Gunn.
But Tobi Omoteso, an internationally acclaimed Nigerian-Irish breaking b-boy, has leapt to her defence after more than 50,000 people signed a petition calling for Raygun to apologise.
He stressed that Raygun earned the right to compete at the Olympics and that the ongoing storm has been "misrepresented".
In an article for The Journal, he wrote: "We were already nervous about how audiences would perceive the artform, and unfortunately the story that people have connected with most, is one of mockery and negativity, totally diminishing the integrity that comes with hip-hop culture.
"The saga around Raygun has been misrepresented; millions of people have seen a video with no context.
"There is a Change.org petition signed by 54,000 demanding she issue an apology. This negativity does not reflect who we are as a community. So I think it’s important to give context to her story.
"Firstly, RayGun comes from Oceania, a part of the world where the artform is in its infancy. If you win that region, as Raygun did, then you have access to the Olympics. Regardless of her skill, she was entitled to be there, because she followed the proper procedures."
Gunn qualified for the Olympics after winning the 2023 Oceania Breaking Championships but it wasn't without controversy as many claimed it was "rigged".
Breakdancers from Oceania have stated the selection process was flawed - leading to the committee responding and denying the claims.
Breaking is not on the list of events for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, but Raygun could still be in the money in the near future.
She has been tipped to appear on a reality TV show, as well as bagging lucrative brand deals that could be worth $500,000.
Topics: Olympics
Josh Lawless