Australia’s Raygun Recalls Receiving 'So Much Hate' Over Olympics Breakdancing: 'Pretty Devastating'
While Adele was a fan of Raygun's work, many were quick to criticize the unique breaking style.
Rachael Gunn, a.k.a. Raygun, says the hate she’s received following her participation in breakdancing’s inaugural Olympics competitions is "pretty devastating."
In a video shared to her Instagram, the Australian breakdancer, who didn’t make it beyond the round-robin phase of the Paris battles earlier this month, first offered a message of gratitude for those who have supported her amid the ensuing jokes and full-fledged misinformation before detailing the toll she says the past few days have taken on her and her family.
"I really appreciate the positivity and I’m glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives," Gunn said. "That’s what I hoped. I didn’t realize that that would also open the door to so much hate, which has frankly been pretty devastating. But I went out there and I had fun. I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics and I gave my all. Truly."
Gunn went on to say that she is "honored" to have been a part of the Australian team, as well as breaking’s Olympics debut. She also praised her fellow competitors’ "phenomenal" showings at this year’s Summer Games, as well as urged those confused amid "allegations and misinformation" to consult official statements.
In a recent statement, Australian Breaking officials said they "condemn the global online harassment and bullying of Raygun." The Australian Olympic Committee also issued a statement, saying "no athlete" representing their country at the Olympics should ever be subjected to such treatment.
Amid the criticism, Adele was among those who offered public words of support. As she told fans during a performance in Munich, Raygun’s breaking made her "very, very happy." Dr. Dre, though he did not mention Raygun by name, had a different stance on breaking’s Olympics debut in a recent interview.
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