Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn has apologised to Indigenous Australians after it was alleged her infamous Kangaroo dance was an example of cultural appropriation.
The Aussie breakdancer took to Instagram on Friday to ‘correct some misinformation’ after her legal team shut down a musical inspired by her Olympic performance.
Comedian Stephanie Broadbridge announced last Saturday that her trial show entitled ‘Breaking: The Musical’ had been been cancelled after Ms Gunn’s lawyers fired off a cease and desist letter.
Ms Broadbridge claimed Ms Gunn’s lawyers had trademarked her kangaroo dance because the viral Olympian ‘owns’ it.
It prompted many critics to accuse Raygun of cultural appropriation because the ‘roo dance’ has been a feature of Indigenous culture for centuries.
But Ms Gunn hit back on Friday, claiming her jive ‘in no way mimics Aboriginal dance’.
‘It was instead inspired by the Australian Olympic mascot ‘BK’, the boxing kangaroo, and I wanted to represent and celebrate that spirit,’ she said.
‘I know this misinformation has upset many members of the Indigenous community and I’m sorry for that and I’m really sorry that this hasn’t been corrected sooner.’
Aussie Olympic breakdancer Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn (pictured) has taken to social media to ‘correct some misinformation’ that has seen her thrust in the spotlight once again
‘I have the utmost respect for indigenous Australians who are part of the oldest continuous living culture on the planet.’
Instead, she revealed that she had trademarked her name and the ‘famous kangaroo silhouette pose’ to block third parties from trying to cash in on her name and image.
‘Yes, I’ve trademarked my name and my now famous kangaroo silhouette pose, which is being used in just about every piece of Raygun merch out there, which I’m not profiting from by the way,’ she said.
‘And the reason we did that is because we were notified there were applications from other parties trying to trademark my name and image for commercial purposes. I mean totally wild.’
Raygun also spoke of her sadness that Ms Broadbridge’s musical was shut down by her legal team so close to its opening night.
The musical was due to open at Kinselas in Darlinghurst Sydney on December 7.
Raygun said she only became aware of the musical last Friday from media reports and insisted ‘not being able to take a joke is not what the issue is here’.
‘We were totally blindsided by this and unfortunately, the blowback was quick,’ Raygun said.
Raygun said her signature kangaroo dance move ‘in no way mimics Aboriginal dance’. Raygun is pictured performing the move at the Paris Olympics
Raygun also spoke of ‘Breaking: The Musical,’ the new show based on her Olympic journey by comedian and musician Steph Broadbridge (pictured) that was shut down by Raygun’s lawyers
‘People assumed that we had developed it, that we had approved it and it damaged many relationships, both personal and professional.’
‘So this is why my management and legal team had to work so quickly to shut the musical down.’
Raygun said it was ‘unfortunate’ the show was shutdown just before it was due to open.
‘I know the artist would have put a lot of work into it and that really sucks,’ Raygun said.’
‘But had we known about it sooner? There could have been a different outcome.’
According to an Eventbrite listing, ‘Breaking: The Musical’ was supposed to feature a dozen actors and songs including ‘You May Be a B-Girl, But You’ll Always Be an A-Girl to Me,’ ‘I’m Breaking Down’ and ‘I Would Have Won but I Pulled a Muscle.’
The Eventbrite listing stated all proceeds from the event were to be donated to the Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre in Redfern in Sydney.
The organisation’s website states, they create ‘safer futures for women and children by ending gender-based violence in a generation.’
Global star: NFL star Camryn Bynu (pictured, centre) impersonated Raygun’s routine when he scored a touchdown last month
Ms Broadbridge confirmed ‘Breaking: The Musical’ wouldn’t go ahead on social media on Saturday morning saying that it had been ‘cancelled’.
‘They were… worried that I was damaging her brand,’ Ms Broadbridge said.
‘Which I would never do… She doesn’t need me to do that,’ she said.
Ms Broadbridge has claimed that the show will still see air in some form, but apologised to Raygun on Channel 10’s The Project on Sunday night.
‘If you’re watching I just want to say I’m really sorry for any negativity that you might have received as a result of this,’ Ms Broadbridge said.
‘I can promise you that was not my intention. This was supposed to be me trying to make you feel like the icon that I believe you can be in Australia.’
‘I just wanted to support you through it. If there’s been any negativity, I’m really sorry.’
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