The memes may soon be gone.
Following Raygun’s breakdancing performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics which led to her becoming a viral sensation, there have been countless memes circulating the internet.
The 36-year-old Australian, whose real name is Rachael Gunn, gained global attention after her breakdancing routine scored zero from the Olympic judges.
Since then, memes have appeared comparing the University lecturer to a dog rolling around after a bath, a kid asking mum to watch their dance moves and trying to get comfy in bed on a hot night.
However, you may have noticed the memes slowly disappearing over the last few days.
The International Olympic Committee has been tackling copyright infringement and those found to have used the IOC’s footage are having their content removed and their accounts disabled.
According to the IOC’s website, no part of the site may be copied, republished, reproduced or transmitted without actual written authorisation.
Some people have received emails citing takedown requests from the IOC and the Olympics due to violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
It means if people want to watch Raygun’s performance, they are going to have to do so through the correct channels.
Meanwhile, Gunn has responded to accusations that she ‘manipulated’ the selection process in order to book her spot at the Games.
A petition calling for her and Australia’s Chef de Mission Anna Meares to apologise attracted 50,000 signatures before it was taken down for violating the host website’s rules.
Raygun said: “I want to start by thanking all the people who have supported me. I appreciate the positivity and I’m glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives, that’s what I’d hoped.
“I didn’t realise it would also open the door to so much hate, which has frankly been pretty devastating.”
She also insisted that she took the Olympics seriously and ‘worked my butt off’.
She continued: “I went out there and I had fun. I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics and I gave it my all, truly.
“I’m honoured to have been a part of the Australian Olympic team and a part of Breaking’s Olympic debut – what the other athletes have achieved has been phenomenal.”
She said the petition was full of misinformation.
