Harshita Jaiswal
India Post News Service
Videos of people stepping out of their car and dancing to the tune of the Canadian rap star Drake’s “In my feeling”, has flooded the feed with the hashtag #KikiChallenge or #InMyFeelingChallenge. The trend has skyrocketed on social platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Kiki comes from the lyrics “Kiki do you love me” from the song ‘In my feeling’ from the singer’s latest album ‘Scorpion’.
The trend has become viral since the internet comedian, Shiggy, kicked off the challenge by posting a video of him dancing to the tune with the hashtag #DoTheShiggy on the street on June 30. Shiggy’s video already has 6 million views on his Instagram account. The bandwagon was later joined by American actor Will Smith who took the challenge up to different level by dancing on Kiki on top of a bridge in Budapest. Nobody will ever know whether Kiki loves Drake or not but it is certainly clear that everyone including Ciara, Kevin Hart, Shay Mitchell and Odell Beckham Jr are also down for this new single.
Following the trend, two Telangana farmers had done their own version of the viral challenge which won over the internet. The video showing Geela Anil Kumar (24) and Pilli Thirupathi (28) dancing with gay abandon as they plough a rice field with bullocks has attracted more than 16 million views.
Police warning
The challenge is said to be ‘dangerous’ by not only the Indian police but also by foreign police as well.
In India, police has warned the people trying to do the challenge on road might end them behind the bars. Bengaluru police have posted a warning on Twitter, “If you dance for #KikiChallenge on the roads, we’re sure of making you dance behind the bars!!” the post read. Urging people to refrain from doing the dance challenge, they wrote, “Kiki Challenge may get you a Kick Of Law not Kick Of Dance”.
On the other side, Mumbai Police posted a sarcastic tweet on Twitter which said, “Kiki is bored of her own challenge. Stop it!.”
In Abu Dhabi, arrest warrants have been issued against three “famous social media personalities” for violating three traffic laws— driving in a way that endangers the lives of others, causing traffic roadblocks or congestion, and using a mobile phone while driving. The public prosecution has also warned people that the Kiki challenge is punishable with imprisonment, fine or both.
In Dubai, police have warned against the trend, stating that those performing the challenge are committing serious traffic violations. Dangerous driving in the city involves a fine of Dh2,000 and 23 black points. The vehicle in question can also be impounded for 60 days.
Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the US has tweeted to remind people that distraction can be dangerous. The Spanish police too are willing to press charges if they see you dancing in the middle of the road.
The challenge took a deadly turn when many millennials started jumping out of moving vehicles in an attempt to make their videos go viral, leading to fatal injuries.
Indian soap actress Nia Sharma, dancer Nora Fatehi, actor Varun Sharma, Karishma Sharma and Adah Sharma have also posted their own versions of the challenge with one million plus followers on various social media handles.
