Family of Viral Sensation Ms. Shirley Face Backlash for Meet-and-Greet Events

Newsweek

a day ago

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The family of the viral sensation, Ms. Shirley, a 4-year-old girl who has amassed a significant online following and fan base, has received backlash after hosting meet-and-greet events.
Newsweek has reached out to the social media account for Ms. Shirely for comment.
The Context
4-year-old LaRiyah Jesireé, aka Ms. Shirley, has become something of a social media celebrity after a video of her doing the "Boots on the Ground" line dance was posted online. An official Boots on the Ground music video was released a few weeks ago, featuring Ms. Shirley.
She recently appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show and has amassed a significant following online, with posts on TikTok regularly receiving millions of views.
What To Know
Meet-and-greet events are common for celebrities, influencers, and public figures. And with more than a million followers across TikTok and Instagram, some may describe Ms. Shirley as an influencer and public figure.
Stock image of social media application on the smartphone screen.
Stock image of social media application on the smartphone screen.
Getty Images / Canart 7
However, social media users have been quick to criticize the meet-and-greets and raise concerns due to Ms. Shirley being a young child.
A post from the account @CultureRiz, read: "Too far?? Mother of 4 year old viral sensation Ms. Shirley is catching a lot of flack for offering meet and greets with her daughter..." and has been viewed 4.5 million times as of press time.
The meet and greets have been described as "odd" and "too much" by social media users, who have said Ms. Shirley's family is "disgusting" for organizing them.
One clip, which has been widely shared on social media in connection with criticism from the meet-and-greets, is from the account 803fresh. 803fresh is the musician behind the song Boots on the Ground, and Ms. Shirley is featured in the video for that song.
The TikTok from 803fresh has been viewed over 6 million times and appears to have been filmed on the day the music video was shot, not at a meet and greet. It has the text overlay, "I finally met my lil Ms boots on the ground... it's was tears behind those glasses."
Despite the backlash, Ms. Shirley has a very loyal fan base, and many social media users have posted supportive messages on her social media profiles in recent days, although they don't directly address the fallout over the meet-and-greets.
What People Are Saying
One social media user commented on a recent Instagram post on MsShirely's account: "This is such an amazing little lady and she never seems to be bothered by what the world of haters has to say about her and her mother keep on stepping baby and bringing down the house with your beautiful soul."
The account @jehnhsushs wrote on X: "people paying...to come see a child that's not theirs.....and touching them...I'm very displeased with the parents and the paying customers cause this will ultimately distort/damage this little girls sense of bodily autonomy and security in the coming years...so disgusting..."
What's Next
In a recent Instagram video on Ms. Shirely's account, she shared that she will be attending the upcoming Positive Energy Tour.