Latest news with #803Fresh
Metro
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Cruise company bans everyday item for 'bizarre' reason
Carnival Cruise passengers will need to find alternative ways to cool down on the dancefloor, after the company announced a ban on handheld fans. In a letter given to those boarding its ships, Carnival claimed the items were prohibited in nightclubs or on any indoor dancefloors 'for safety reasons'. But the policy has proven unclear for travellers, who were told by brand ambassador John Heald that it only applies to paper fans 'made of cardboard' and 'not the electric mini ones'. 'This latest random Carnival Cruise Line ban both confuses and amuses me,' said @professormelissa on TikTok, while @ added: 'That's so bizarre'. Many questioned what led to the move too, including @adventures_in_retirement who asked: 'What could have really gone wrong to cause them to ban handheld fans? How could this ever have even come about?' Although Carnival hasn't confirmed the reasoning behind this, it's been speculated that it may be due to the recent 'Boots on the Ground' trend. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. A number of videos show rows of cruisers doing a choreographed line-dance to the popular 803Fresh song, flipping open their fans in unison at the lyric: 'Where them fans at?' And while this seems fairly innocuous, rumours have since surfaced of injuries resulting from these performances. Content creator @mandythecruiseplanner claimed she'd heard of two incidents, including one where somebody needed stitches after being hit with a fan and another where the person was left with eye damage. There was backlash from some, with comments online ranging from: 'They hate to see us together and having a great time,' to 'Let people have fun. My god.' However, on the flip side, one commenter said, 'Flicking fans in people's faces around their personal space is a no no,' while another added: 'I can see drinking and clacking fans in a dance club could be very annoying.' Dancefloor fans aren't the only thing that Carnival has cracked down on recently either. The company also now prohibits passengers from bringing boom boxes, radios and all types of speakers on board, warning that these 'will be confiscated' if spotted by crew. Guests must use earphones when listening to their devices in public spaces, to ensure staff and fellow travellers can hear public announcements. Similarly, 'electrical and household appliances containing any kind of heating element, such as irons, clothes steamers, immersion heaters, heating blankets, water heaters, coffee machines, hot plates, toasters, heating pads, and humidifiers' are listed on the Carnival website as no-gos — although this is the case on most cruises. In a blog post, cruise expert Gary Bembridge detailed a number of other items banned with multiple carriers: extension cords being one of them. 'All cruise lines ban any extension cord with a surge protector feature as, unlike at home, they are not compatible and could affect the electrical system on ships and cause a fire in your cabin,' he explains. Metro has contacted Carnival Cruise for comment and will update this article if we receive a response. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@
Indianapolis Star
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Boots on the Ground for 2025 WNBA All-Star. Music and comedy show lineup announced
Where them WNBA fans at? They'll be line dancing at an All-Star comedy and music event in Indianapolis come July. That's when 'Boots on the Ground' artist 803Fresh will be performing as part of the WNBA All-Star 2025 inaugural Fever Fest. The song has quickly become a staple of spring and summer gatherings so far. Pacers Sports & Entertainment and Kevin Hart's Hartbeat entertainment company announced the music and comedy entertainment lineup for July 19 happening at Everwise Amphitheater. The activation is part of the Hartbeat's multi-year deal with Pacers Sports & Entertainment to coordinate entertainment and fan experiences throughout the year. Pacers Sports & Entertainment manages the Indiana Pacers and the Indiana Fever. A full lineup of premium entertainment and fan experiences will be rolled out for major cultural events later. 2025 WNBA All-Star: Kevin Hart using Pacers to develop entertainment business — and he wants Mike Epps to join in Other featured performers include: Southern soul singer 803Fresh will kick off the three-hour July 19 event. The South Carolina musician has produced the song of the summer with 'Boots on the Ground,' which went viral with an accompanying line dance. Robin Roberts did the dance on 'Good Morning America.' First Lady Michelle Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris have been seen doing it, and Beyoncé uses the song and dance on her Cowboy Carter Tour. The song hit number 1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay Chart and the line dance is referenced in the 2025 Juneteenth Google Doodle. 803Fresh performed 'Boots on the Ground' in Oklahoma City during halftime of game 1 of the NBA Finals. Fever Fest starts at 5 p.m. and will feature more than three hours of entertainment. An All-Star watch party follows at 8:30 p.m., allowing fans to watch the game on large screens while enjoying food and drinks. Mike Epps on Pacers entertainment: 'He should have called me.' Kevin Hart and culture deal General on-sale tickets go live beginning at 3 p.m. on June 24 at
New York Times
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
How ‘Boots on the Ground' Two-Stepped Onto Everyone's Summer Playlist
Wagener, S.C., is home to a population of 631, a proud history of asparagus crops and now an unlikely dance phenomenon. To write 'Boots on the Ground,' the stomping, midtempo anthem with a wailing chorus, also known as 'Where Them Fans At?,' the singer 803Fresh, born Douglas Furtick, lifted a bit of vernacular from the dancers who attend trail rides in the area. Those rides — part horsemanship display, part social gathering — frequently culminate in field parties, where line dancers and steppers show off choreographed moves to Southern soul and country anthems. 'I heard a lot of the steppers: They were like, 'Hey, we got boots on the ground tonight,'' 803Fresh said, describing how they would hype up a trail ride to friends and neighbors. The song's central query was a genuine one. At one outing, he saw steppers wielding fans and tried to buy one — to no avail. Writing the lyrics, he said, he did not yet fully understand the significance of the fans that were ubiquitous. 'It's a functional piece that's now being used as part of a cultural statement but it's always been with us historically,' said DaLyah Jones, a historian and cultural critic who has studied Black Southern arts. She cited their use as a fashionable accessory carried to church, in queer and ballroom culture, and as a functional way to beat the heat at these outdoor gatherings. Items such as napkins and handkerchiefs have also been used as fans and an extension of the dancing. Since the release of 'Boots on the Ground' in December, the song has steadily spread in an unusual way: Its accompanying line dance has made it a sensation both of social media and the I.R.L. gatherings where a community of Black Southerners could care less about outside trends. It has traveled beyond field dances to TikTok and back out into the world, most notably landing on the stage of Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' tour, where the pop superstar performs part of the line dance during a section of her show. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
USA Today
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Ms. Shirley, 4, is a TikTok sensation. Some fans are worried, and her mom is speaking out.
Ms. Shirley, 4, is a TikTok sensation. Some fans are worried, and her mom is speaking out. Latisha Tucker has always known her daughter, LaR'iyah, had star power. So when her 4-year-old went TikTok viral in February for line dancing to 803Fresh's hit song 'Boots on the Ground,' she wasn't surprised. LaR'iyah, known online as 'Ms. Shirley,' had gone viral before. But the TikTok, where she smiled while stomping with fringe boots and a pastel pink fan, brought her a new legion of fans. She grew to 981,000 followers on the platform, appeared on the Jennifer Hudson show and was featured in 803Fresh's music video of the song. What Tucker didn't expect, however, was how quick the stream of hate from viewers followed. Suddenly, the TikTok page's comment section was filled with viewers sounding off on everything from if the level of attention on LaR'iyah is excessive to if the dance moves are appropriate for a 4-year-old. 'When are we gonna stop exploiting our babies?' one commenter seethed. 'This is wild that we think this is OK,' another replied. The attention crossed a line after TikTokers posted videos stating they were calling Child Protective Services on Tucker. It's the latest instance of a parent receiving flak over posting their children online. When parents put their child on social media, they open themselves up for reactions that may be out of their control, says Leah Plunkett, author of 'Sharenthood: Why We Should Think Before We Talk About Our Kids Online' and a faculty member at Harvard Law School. Watch: Tips to prevent oversharing information about your kids online Who is viral sensation, Ms. Shirley? The earliest videos on the TikTok account feature hairstyles done by Tucker, who works as a hairstylist, and videos of LaR'iyah as a baby. LaR'iyah started teaching herself line dances by propping up Tucker's phone. By 2 years old, she was dancing to Megan Thee Stallion, the Wop dance club remix and GloRilla. The nickname 'Ms. Shirley' is one she's had since birth and has no correlation with actress Shirley Temple. Tucker says she knows haters come with the territory of being an online creator. She says those making response videos are looking to monetize discussion of LaR'iyah for their own platform, given her name recognition. 'A lot of them just joined the bandwagon of what somebody is saying,' Tucker says. Since going viral, LaR'iyah has taken part in more than 10 in-person events as a celebrity guest, including rodeo days, parades and family events. Her critics say these appearances give adults too much access to a small child. As her fame has grown, so has misinformation. Some posts criticizing Tucker that included videos showing adult men holding LaR'iyah turned out to be adults Tucker already knew. 'People just pick and choose and point out and place it in the timeline where it'll fit their narrative,' Tucker says, adding that she is always right beside LaR'iyah. 'You can't put the genie back in the bottle' The backlash toward Tucker heated up when some critics recently re-upped a video she'd posted in 2024 of LaR'iyah doing the 'Red Dress' trend. In the video, which has more than 3.7 million views, LaR'iyah puts on a red dress, heels, lipstick and a wig over lyrics over Johnny Gill's 1990 R&B song 'My, My, My.' Commenters argued the suggestive nature of the song could direct bad actors toward LaR'iyah's videos. Tucker says the video only started receiving backlash this spring, even though it's been up for more than a year. 'All she is doing is being a kid like any other kid. like when we were young as little girls, we put on our moms' lipstick, her dress or her wig and her heels, and that's all it was,' Tucker says. The difference, experts say, is that when those childhood moments are put out to viewers online, they can't be taken back. In the modern digital age, where photos and videos make a permanent trail, child influencers will come face to face with the digital footprint left in their childhood, says Stacey Steinberg, a law professor at the University of Florida's Levin College of Law and the director of the school's Center on Children and Families. 'You can't put the genie back in the bottle,' Steinberg says. 'We have a lot of kids whose relationship with society has been permanently altered by these decisions by parents.' Plunkett says children in the online spotlight may afterwards struggle developmentally to figure out who they are without adults writing the script for them. And posting about kids online can blur the boundaries in children's minds of what is real and what is imagination. 'That stage is also their home, their school, their community, trips they're taking with their parents,' Plunkett says. 'They are not going to understand what is their real life and what is their stage life, and that can have really complicated and in some instances, devastating consequences." More: From Snapchat to YouTube, here's how to monitor and protect your kids online The risk of sharing your child online Steinberg says parents considering posting their kids should weigh motivations for sharing with their children's rights to maintain their privacy and control over their own digital footprint. Parents who share their children online risk data collection and exposure to bad actors. Strangers may use information posted online to find personal details, like where a child attends school, and collect or share data, including innocent images of children, in ways the creator has little control over. Child creators also risk being on the receiving end of fans who develop unhealthy relationships, which can result in incessant interactions that cross personal boundaries and stalking. Steinberg says some kids might appreciate the financial income or platform that comes with sharing, but others might come of age and feel 'embarrassed or self-conscious' about information that was shared, especially if it doesn't line up with the person they hope to be in adulthood. Tucker says she plans to put LaR'iyah's money aside to use for future plans, like a college education, and that she hopes the publicity will give her a platform to pursue dance or singing. Her supporters tell her to keep dancing. On a Facebook fan page, nearly 30,000 followers, many of whom lovingly refer to themselves as internet aunties, dote over new photos of LaR'iyah donning blinged out outfits, post prayers for her family and promote her events. The comments are filled with messages of support: 'Keep on stepping babygirl!' 'Don't dim your shine.' 'Team Ms. Shirley forever.' Rachel Hale's role covering Youth Mental Health at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal Ventures and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach her at rhale@ and @rachelleighhale on X.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ms. Shirley, 4, is a TikTok sensation. Some fans are worried, and her mom is speaking out.
Latisha Tucker has always known her daughter, LaR'iyah, had star power. So when her 4-year-old went TikTok viral in February for line dancing to 803Fresh's hit song 'Boots on the Ground,' she wasn't surprised. LaR'iyah, known online as 'Ms. Shirley,' had gone viral before. But the TikTok, where she smiled while stomping with fringe boots and a pastel pink fan, brought her a new legion of fans. She grew to 981,000 followers on the platform, appeared on the Jennifer Hudson show and was featured in 803Fresh's music video of the song. What Tucker didn't expect, however, was how quick the stream of hate from viewers followed. Suddenly, the TikTok page's comment section was filled with viewers sounding off on everything from if the level of attention on LaR'iyah is excessive to if the dance moves are appropriate for a 4-year-old. 'When are we gonna stop exploiting our babies?' one commenter seethed. 'This is wild that we think this is OK,' another replied. The attention crossed a line after TikTokers posted videos stating they were calling Child Protective Services on Tucker. It's the latest instance of a parent receiving flak over posting their children online. When parents put their child on social media, they open themselves up for reactions that may be out of their control, says Leah Plunkett, author of 'Sharenthood: Why We Should Think Before We Talk About Our Kids Online' and a faculty member at Harvard Law School. Watch: Tips to prevent oversharing information about your kids online The earliest videos on the TikTok account feature hairstyles done by Tucker, who works as a hairstylist, and videos of LaR'iyah as a baby. LaR'iyah started teaching herself line dances by propping up Tucker's phone. By 2 years old, she was dancing to Megan Thee Stallion, the Wop dance club remix and GloRilla. The nickname 'Ms. Shirley' is one she's had since birth and has no correlation with actress Shirley Temple. Tucker says she knows haters come with the territory of being an online creator. She says those making response videos are looking to monetize discussion of LaR'iyah for their own platform, given her name recognition. 'A lot of them just joined the bandwagon of what somebody is saying,' Tucker says. Since going viral, LaR'iyah has taken part in more than 10 in-person events as a celebrity guest, including rodeo days, parades and family events. Her critics say these appearances give adults too much access to a small child. As her fame has grown, so has misinformation. Some posts criticizing Tucker that included videos showing adult men holding LaR'iyah turned out to be adults Tucker already knew. 'People just pick and choose and point out and place it in the timeline where it'll fit their narrative,' Tucker says, adding that she is always right beside LaR'iyah. The backlash toward Tucker heated up when some critics recently re-upped a video she'd posted in 2024 of LaR'iyah doing the 'Red Dress' trend. In the video, which has more than 3.7 million views, LaR'iyah puts on a red dress, heels, lipstick and a wig over lyrics over Johnny Gill's 1990 R&B song 'My, My, My.' Commenters argued the suggestive nature of the song could direct bad actors toward LaR'iyah's videos. Tucker says the video only started receiving backlash this spring, even though it's been up for more than a year. 'All she is doing is being a kid like any other kid. like when we were young as little girls, we put on our moms' lipstick, her dress or her wig and her heels, and that's all it was,' Tucker says. The difference, experts say, is that when those childhood moments are put out to viewers online, they can't be taken back. In the modern digital age, where photos and videos make a permanent trail, child influencers will come face to face with the digital footprint left in their childhood, says Stacey Steinberg, a law professor at the University of Florida's Levin College of Law and the director of the school's Center on Children and Families. 'You can't put the genie back in the bottle,' Steinberg says. 'We have a lot of kids whose relationship with society has been permanently altered by these decisions by parents.' Plunkett says children in the online spotlight may afterwards struggle developmentally to figure out who they are without adults writing the script for them. And posting about kids online can blur the boundaries in children's minds of what is real and what is imagination. 'That stage is also their home, their school, their community, trips they're taking with their parents,' Plunkett says. 'They are not going to understand what is their real life and what is their stage life, and that can have really complicated and in some instances, devastating consequences." More: From Snapchat to YouTube, here's how to monitor and protect your kids online Steinberg says parents considering posting their kids should weigh motivations for sharing with their children's rights to maintain their privacy and control over their own digital footprint. Parents who share their children online risk data collection and exposure to bad actors. Strangers may use information posted online to find personal details, like where a child attends school, and collect or share data, including innocent images of children, in ways the creator has little control over. Child creators also risk being on the receiving end of fans who develop unhealthy relationships, which can result in incessant interactions that cross personal boundaries and stalking. Steinberg says some kids might appreciate the financial income or platform that comes with sharing, but others might come of age and feel 'embarrassed or self-conscious' about information that was shared, especially if it doesn't line up with the person they hope to be in adulthood. Tucker says she plans to put LaR'iyah's money aside to use for future plans, like a college education, and that she hopes the publicity will give her a platform to pursue dance or singing. Her supporters tell her to keep dancing. On a Facebook fan page, nearly 30,000 followers, many of whom lovingly refer to themselves as internet aunties, dote over new photos of LaR'iyah donning blinged out outfits, post prayers for her family and promote her events. The comments are filled with messages of support: 'Keep on stepping babygirl!' 'Don't dim your shine.' 'Team Ms. Shirley forever.' Rachel Hale's role covering Youth Mental Health at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal Ventures and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach her at rhale@ and @rachelleighhale on X. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Ms. Shirley? Why there's a controversy over the 4-year-old
