Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn has divided the nation with her bombshell TV interview about her disaster 2024 Paris Olympics performance.
The Aussie breakdancer, 36, turned into an overnight internet sensation after her wild dance moves at the sporting spectacular became the event’s most-talked about moment.
She was hit by an onslaught of online ridicule and garnered attention of global stars for her unique routine, which included kangaroo hopping and her rolling around on the floor like a snake.
The sportswoman has now broken her silence on the ordeal in a bombshell world-first TV interview, which saw her grilled by Waleed Aly on The Project on Wednesday.
The tell-all chat saw Raygun slam her critics for not ‘understanding’ breakdancing and discuss the huge backlash, but it has left Aussie viewers completely divided.
While some praised her for speaking out, others appeared unimpressed as they branded the interview a ‘car crash’ and insisted it was a ‘bad PR move’.
Some viewers even pointed out the one moment in the interview which proved her ‘nervous’ demeanour, though many couldn’t agree on the reason behind it.
Criticising her TV appearance, one viewer wrote on X – formerly known as Twitter: ‘This #Raygun interview…isn’t it.’
Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn has divided the nation with her bombshell TV interview about her disaster 2024 Paris Olympics performance
‘Raygun has two choices after that car crash interview. Leave Australia or leave planet earth. Anything less will be very difficult for her,’ another penned.
A third said: ‘This #Raygun interview…isn’t it,’ while a fourth added: ‘Is this girl really insulting our intelligence by saying we just don’t understand breaking? The entitlement is beyond.’
Others jumped to Raygun’s defence as they hit out at critics for continuing to pile on amid the backlash, insisting she had come across well in the wide-ranging chat.
‘Rachel seems pretty cool. Yes, the performance was unique, perhaps a bit cringe, but why all the abuse? We take winning too seriously,’ one tweeted.
Another said: ‘From a couch critic, Raygun’s Olympic breakdancing left a lot to be desired but she’s come across extremely well in the #theprojecttv interview.’
And a third gushed: ‘I love Raygun. Unironically and unashamedly.’
Some at-home viewers also claimed to have found the one moment which showed Raygun was ‘nervous’ about the tell-all interview.
Raygun had appeared uncomfortable as Waleed confronted her with claims from hip-hop star Spice that her performance made a ‘mockery’ of the Aussie scene.
Commenting on when she reached her hand up to her ear, they penned: ‘Did you notice #Raygun’s nervous #Body-Language which is associated with being deceptive and telling Porkies?
‘Did you notice #Raygun’s nervous #Body-Language which is associated with being deceptive and telling Porkies?’ wrote one viewer
The Aussie breakdancer, 36, turned into an overnight internet sensation after her unique dance moves at the sporting spectacular became the event’s most-talked about moment
Raygun has now slammed her critics for not ‘understanding’ breakdancing and discuss the huge backlash, but it has left Aussie viewers completely divided as some were unimpressed
Others jumped to Raygun’s defence as they hit out at critics for continuing to pile on amid the backlash, insisting she had come across well in the wide-ranging TV interview
‘#WaleedAly managed to touch her raw nerve, which exposed her right in front of the nation now.’
However, another fan strongly disagreed as they argued: ‘Looked like she was adjusting her in-ear monitor cable.’
During the interview, Raygun doubled down on her defence of her viral Olympic routine as she blamed a ‘lack of resources’, before revealing she plans to step back from competing in a shock career move.
Addressing the backlash, she also took a swipe at her critics as she claimed they don’t understand her ‘artistic’ style.
‘Unfortunately, we just need some more resources in Australia for us to have a chance to beat world champions,’ she shared.
‘You know, historically, unfortunately, we haven’t had the best track record of winning World Championships, so, you know, I don’t think that’s just on me.’
‘A lot of the responses, though, is just due to people not being very familiar with breaking and the diversity of approaches in breaking,’ she went on.
‘It was so fantastic that the next day the judging chair, MG, came out and explained that in the breaking community what I did actually wasn’t very shocking.
‘You know, it’s just a different approach in breaking. You have the athletic-style breakers and you also have the more artistic-style breakers and all of them are very valid.’
Though her performance has been widely viewed around the globe, Raygun admitted she hasn’t watched back her now-infamous performance.
‘I haven’t watched it back, no. That’s not unusual for me, though. I’m not great at watching back my battles,’ she shared.
‘It’s still gonna take some time. I think I’ve seen little bits and pieces, but, yeah, I’ll watch it eventually.’
Despite reports she could be fighting off TV offers after signing with an influencer talent agency, Raygun said she has no plans to compete again any time soon and wants to step back from the limelight.
‘I don’t think I’ll be competing for a while. Not really wanting to be in the spotlight, breaking, competing. But I… You know, it’s been nice,’ she shared.
Raygun was hit by an onslaught of online ridicule and garnered attention of global stars after her unique routine, which included kangaroo hopping and her rolling around on the floor
‘Like, it’s been a bit of a process to try and start dancing again. Like, that’s actually been tough. You know, it was my medicine, and then it turned into my source of stress!
‘So, I’m really happy that it gets to go back to being my medicine. I can kind of finally feel free again, so yeah, I’m looking forward to breaking, but, no, I don’t think I’ll compete for a while.’
Admitting it has not been an easy time for her, Raygun also shared that she has been relying on mental health support and taken herself off social media in the wake of the criticism.
However, she noted that her fame has also come with positives, including getting messages from ‘random people’ who never would have otherwise known her.
Raygun has not yet returned to Australia after the Olympics and is currently on a pre-planned European holiday with her breaking coach husband Samuel Free.
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