Latest news with #BootsontheGround
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Family of Viral Sensation Ms. Shirley Face Backlash for Meet-and-Greet Events
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. 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 come see a child that's not 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 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.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Rhode Island pays tribute to state's fallen veterans
EXETER. R.I. (WPRI) — Dozens of Rhode Islanders gathered at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery Monday afternoon to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The entire cemetery was adorned with thousands of American flags marking the headstones of the state's veterans and their loved ones who have been laid to rest. SEE ALSO: 'Boots on the Ground' memorial honors RI's fallen heroes Gov. Dan McKee and Veterans Services Director Kasim Yarn presided over the state's 51st annual Memorial Day commemoration at the cemetery. Ronald Gill Sr. was among those in attendance. Gill Sr.'s son, 26-year-old Ronald Gill Jr., passed away during a United States Coast Guard training exercise 18 years ago. 'It's sad having to spend time with your son at the cemetery,' Gill Sr. said. 'But this is his home. This is where we come to see him.' Gill Sr. told 12 News he has dedicated his life to keeping his son's memory and legacy alive. 'This is the day to honor the men and women that never made it out of their uniform,' he said. More than 25,000 Rhode Island veterans, as well as their spouses and eligible dependents, are buried at the 280-acre cemetery, which first opened in 1976. NEXT: RI receives $5M to expand capacity of Veterans Memorial Cemetery Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
HBCU Graduation flexes with Boots on the Ground dance
Virginia State University's 2025 commencement ceremonies turned into unforgettable celebrations of HBCU culture and unity on Saturday as graduates in both ceremonies broke into the viral "Boots on the Ground" dance-sparked by a surprise moment led by VSU President Dr. Makola M. Abdullah. The university held two commencement exercises inside the VSU Multipurpose Center. The morning ceremony at 8:30 a.m. honored graduates from the College of Education and the College of Humanities & Social Sciences. The afternoon ceremony at 1:30 p.m. celebrated those graduating from the College of Agriculture, College of Engineering & Technology, College of Natural & Health Sciences, and the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business. In both ceremonies, just after the turning of the tassels and before students crossed the stage, President Abdullah invited graduates to look beneath their seats. There, they found handheld fans-placed intentionally as a nod to the popular lyric from 803Fresh's hit: "Where them fans at?" What made the moment even more adorable on the livestream of the event was the sign language interpreter getting in on the action and dancing on screen. President Abdullah encouraged the new HBCU graduates to dance along or simply enjoy the moment. As the beat dropped, students erupted into movement, clapping the fans in rhythm and performing the viral "Boots on the Ground" dance. The celebratory interlude lasted about 1 minute and 20 seconds, capturing the joy, pride, and cultural richness of the VSU Class of 2025. The post HBCU Graduation flexes with Boots on the Ground dance appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Black America Web
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Michelle Obama Is Still Putting Her ‘Boots On The Ground' – Just Like The Rest Of Us
Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE Source: Erika Goldring / Getty Michelle Obama is still putting her boots on the ground—and we love that for her. Our forever First Lady hit Instagram Stories this weekend with a behind-the-scenes clip of her getting into the groove of the now-iconic 'Boots on the Ground line dance. As previously reported, Michelle took her moves to the stage with Tina Knowles during a recent conversation in Washington, D.C. This capture appeared to happen around the time of the stage appearance. In the Instagram Stories content, Michelle looked fresh and fab as ever. The Chicago native rocked light-wash cuffed jeans, silver pointed-toe boot heels, and a flowy blue-and-white button-down shirt with chic shoulder cutouts. She styled her hair in a braided ponytail that swung from left to right as Michelle got the 'Boots on the Ground' beat. The post doubled as a promo for her recent live podcast episode with Tina. Michelle linked her podcast convo in her story, but the dance moment? That's what stopped our scrolling. Michelle reminded us why she's not just a political icon, but a whole vibe. Michelle Obama's 'Boots On The Ground' Story Proves The Song Is The Hit Of The Summer At this point, 'Boots on the Ground' isn't just a TikTok trend—it's a cultural staple. Niecy Nash had her whole cowboy-themed birthday party lined up for it. Taraji P. Henson attended, among other celebrities, and led the dance. Even Vice President Kamala Harris has posted herself learning the moves. As summer kicks off, don't be surprised if this is the go-to dance at every cookout, day party, and wedding reception. Because if Michelle's still stepping? So are we. Watch Michelle and Tina's conversation about life, motherhood, sacrifice, style, and more. SEE ALSO Michelle Obama Is Still Putting Her 'Boots On The Ground' – Just Like The Rest Of Us was originally published on
San Francisco Chronicle
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Kamala Harris goes viral for learning TikTok dance before S.F. speech
Kamala Harris took time to dance it out before making her first major speech since President Donald Trump took office. The Oakland native delivered a sobering speech at San Francisco's Palace Hotel during the Emerge America 20th anniversary gala on Wednesday, April 30. But first, she met up with content creator Kenneth Walden to let loose before she began. A viral video posted to Walden's social media accounts shows him teaching the former vice president the popular 'Boots on the Ground' line dance, inspired by Georgia-born singer 803Fresh's 2024 song of the same name. It has divided audiences, with some deeming Harris' attempt 'cringe' while others lament her presidential loss. 'Alright, here we go' Walden shouted as they stepped-side-to-side and ran through the dance, the two of them laughing and high-fiving in excitement. 'I knew you would get it.' The original video has received more than 661,000 likes on TikTok as of Friday, May 2, and the clip has been re-circulated by a variety of other accounts on X, Instagram and TikTok. 'Living her best life. I feel you madam president,' commented Instagram user @bernoidrussell. 'This connection is powerful. Thank you for always giving us hope,' wrote @ Others, however, weren't as charmed by Harris' dance moves. 'What a joke' wrote @samsonoptionvivi, while @kpetoney expressed gratitude that Harris didn't win the election, noting that 'Foreign leaders would eat her alive.' This isn't the first time Harris has received mixed feedback for dancing in public. Throughout her presidential campaign, various clips of her showing off her moves circulated online evoking similar criticism for being unserious. Nonetheless, the discourse hasn't stopped her from enjoying a good tune. Another video posted to Walden's accounts shows Harris flicking open the rainbow fan as the line, 'Where them fans at?' plays, shifting her weight to one leg and striking a pose as off-camera voices cheer her on. 'VP Kamala Harris is the Uncontested champion with the fan,' the caption reads. Walden also interviewed Harris in a few additional clips shared to his Instagram account, asking her how she plans to uplift Black women and how she maintains Black joy in the public eye. 'I have a husband who is here right now,' she said. 'And an incredible circle of friends who are family, and family,' she said. 'I think it's just important to be with those people who love you and care about you, and get you.' In her 18-minute speech Wednesday evening, Harris criticized Trump's administration on his 100th day back in office. She has yet to announce her future plans since losing the 2024 election, but many have speculated that she may join the race for California Governor.
