Australian viral breakdancer Raygun cruelly mocked on Jimmy Fallon’s The Tonight Show

Cameron Noakes
7NEWS Sport
Breakdancer Raygun's unique moves were easy pickings for US comedian Jimmy Fallon.

US comedian Jimmy Fallon has openly mocked Australia’s viral breakdancer Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn on his world famous The Tonight Show.

Fallon used his opening address to his live audience to discuss breakdancing as an Olympic sport, before a lively Raygun impersonator jumped onto the stage, dressed in an Australian uniform.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Rachael Gunn mocked on American late night TV.

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“Breakdancing made it’s Olympic debut,” Fallon said as the crowd started to chuckle. “Please stay seated,” he added

“And everyone’s still talking about the competitor from Australia named Raygun.

“Let’s take a look at her viral performance here ...,” in which he then aired a clip from the Olympics that showed Raygun doing her kangaroo hops and rolling around the stage.

Comedian Rachel Dratch dressed as Raygun on The Tonight Show. 
Comedian Rachel Dratch dressed as Raygun on The Tonight Show.  Credit: @TonightShow

“She actually received zero points for that,” he said, while some of the crowd made sympathetic “ohhhh” noises.

“You have to wonder where Raygun is right now,” and that’s when the music kicked in and the impersonator — comedian Rachel Dratch — appeared.

“It’s Raygun everybody ...” Fallon laughed. “I have to ask you this, how are you feeling since your performance?”

Raygun hit the floor, and Fallon continued, “You speak through your dance movements, I understand.”

He then joined the impersonator in some kangaroo hops before the cruel and mostly unfunny takedown ended.

Meanwhile, another storm surrounding Raygun’s Olympic selection process has also surfaced ... but proved to be mostly false.

An online petition has emerged, calling “for immediate accountability and transparency” around the selection process and wants to know why younger Aussie female breakdancers such as G Clef and Holy Molly were overlooked for Paris.

Given the athleticism required for the event, Gunn — a 36-year-old university professor — is certainly in the twilight of her breakdancing days.

The petition suggested Gunn “set up her own governing body for breakdancing” and “manipulated the selection process to her own advantage”.

“Despite the clear talent and qualification of other outstanding female breakdancers like G Clef and Holy Molly, they were unfairly overlooked,” the petition said.

“Disturbingly, Dr Gunn went on to win her own qualifier, defeating other phenomenal breakdancers, raising serious questions about the fairness and integrity of the process.”

But Gunn won the Oceania Breaking Championships last year, which was how she ended up on the Australian Olympic team.

Fans weren’t overly thrilled with Raygun’s performance during the round robin in Paris.
Fans weren’t overly thrilled with Raygun’s performance during the round robin in Paris. Credit: Getty Images
The kangaroo moves were considered a little ‘daggy’ by some.
The kangaroo moves were considered a little ‘daggy’ by some. Credit: Getty Images

Despite that fact, the petition — set up by ‘Someone Who hates corruption’ — is demanding “a public apology” from Gunn and Australia’s chef de mission Anna Meares “for misleading the Australian public and attempting to gaslight the public and undermining the efforts of genuine athletes”.

“We also call for a full investigation into the selection process ... and a global public apology to the breaking community for the unethical behavior that has tainted this sport,” the petition said.

“Australia must do better by its athletes and ensure that the principles of fairness, transparency, and integrity are upheld in all aspects of Olympic selection.”

AUSBreaking quickly defended the selection process and dismissed any suggestions that it lacked transparency.

“The selection process for Australia’s breaking team heading to Paris was conducted over two days, and open to all interested participants in the Oceanic region,” AUSBreaking said.

“Adhering to World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) regulations, which align with International Olympic Committee (IOC) standards, the process aimed to ensure a fair and transparent outcome.

“A panel of nine international adjudicators, a head judge and a chairperson who oversaw the competition, using the same judging system at the Paris Games and trained to uphold the highest standards of impartiality.

“These judges are all highly respected in their respective communities and in the international breaking scene.

“Ultimately, Rachael Gunn and Jeff Dunne emerged as the top performers in exactly the same process, securing their spots to represent Australia in Paris. Their selection was based solely on their performance in their battles on that day.

“In the lead-up to Paris, Raygun used her platform as the Australian Breaking representative to consistently advocate in the media for breaking’s history, artistic and athletic values, and its cultural origins.

“We condemn the global online harassment and bullying of Raygun. The pressure to perform on the Olympic stage is immense, especially against the opponents in her particular group. We stand in solidarity with Raygun.”

Originally published on 7NEWS Sport

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