Griddy
The Griddy is a dance move in which a person alternatingly taps their heels, either in place or while walking, while swinging their arms back and forth. Created by high school footballer Allen Davis in 2018, his dance went viral on TikTok in 2019. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has added "throw[ing] your B's" to the dance;[1] this move looks similar to forming "ok" symbols around the eyes.[2]
Origins
The name of the dance is taken from the nickname of its creator, Allen "Griddy" Davis.[3][4] As a high school football player, Davis was inspired by the Nae Nae to make his own dance.[5] Davis created The Griddy and uploaded videos to YouTube showing it off. He introduced the dance to one of his best friends and teammate, future Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. When Chase began playing football for LSU, he showed it to fellow wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
Popularity
After performing The Griddy at collegiate level games, Chase and Jefferson brought the dance to the NFL, bringing it popularity among players, celebrities, and fans.[6] In 2020, a song titled "Right Foot Creep" by YoungBoy Never Broke Again was released, and it was synced up with the dance and used on TikTok.[7] In 2021, the dance was featured as an emote in Fortnite.[8][9]
During the 2022 Pro Bowl, New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones did The Griddy after a “just for fun” 80 yard rushing touchdown that did not count, marking what many consider to be the final Pro Bowl highlight following the league’s ending of the Pro Bowl game.[10][failed verification] In 2022, a collaboration between Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Jefferson led to the release of Griddy Toast Crunch, a limited edition run of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, including Jefferson’s likeness on the box.[11][12] The boxes were priced at $50, selling out in 90 minutes.[13] In 2022, American soccer player Christian Pulisic did The Griddy after scoring in the 2022 UEFA Champions League for Chelsea, which later became a celebration in FIFA 23.[14] Jesse Lingard celebrated scoring for Nottingham Forest against Tottenham Hotspur on November 9, 2022.[15] On January 1, 2023, Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander did the Griddy in front of Justin Jefferson after breaking up a pass intended for the Vikings wide receiver.[16] In July 2023, Lisa Mesi, a high school principal, was fired after denying a graduate her diploma after the graduate did the Griddy on stage.[17][18] Alongside being fired, Mesi also received death threats following the news going viral online.[19] In September 2023, Manchester City winger Jérémy Doku celebrated by doing the Griddy after he scored the equaliser against West Ham.[20] He did it again after he scored the third goal during a Champions League match against RB Leipzig, and Italian player Moise Kean did it in Juventus versus Hellas Verona.
On February 10, 2024, Jake Walman while playing for the Detroit Red Wings did the griddy after scoring an overtime shootout winner against the Vancouver Canucks.
References
- ^ "Justin Jefferson Teaches Step-By-Step How to Do the Griddy Dance". YouTube. Sporting News. February 9, 2022.
- ^ "The Griddy dance origin: How Justin Jefferson started a new NFL TD celebration craze | Sporting News". www.sportingnews.com. January 2, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ History of the Griddy on KPRC2 news in Houston with @AriA1exander, retrieved March 9, 2022
- ^ "Griddy". Know Your Meme. February 2, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ "Origin of the Griddy Dance, seen by Pulisic in Champions League". AS.com. February 23, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ "How The Griddy swept the NFL and beyond - TD dance by Vikings WR Justin Jefferson, step by step - 24sSports". November 28, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ writer, WILSON ALEXANDER | Staff (August 14, 2022). "The Griddy took off without the man who created the dance. He wants you to know his name". The Advocate. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ Ragatz, Will. "Justin Jefferson's "Griddy" Dance to Be Featured in Fortnite Video Game". Sports Illustrated Minnesota Vikings News, Analysis and More. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ "Justin Jefferson's signature Griddy dance is coming to Fortnite". NFL.com. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ Shook, Nick (September 26, 2022). "'The Pro Bowl Games' reimagine NFL's all-star game by virtue of flag football". NFL.
- ^ "'Griddy Toast Crunch' Cereal Features Justin Jefferson & 'Cinnamoji'". www.vikings.com. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ Thompson, Eric J. (February 24, 2022). "Griddy Toast Crunch!". Daily Norseman. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ BringMeTheNews. "Justin Jefferson's $50 'griddy' Toast Crunch sells out in a flash". Bring Me The News. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ "What is 'The Griddy'? Pulisic & Elanga dance celebration explained | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
- ^ "Jesse Lingard just hit the 'Griddy' celebration on Spurs, their fans say they're finished". SPORTbible. November 9, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- ^ "Jaire Alexander backs up talk as Packers hold Vikings' Justin Jefferson to 1 reception". www.espn.com. January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ Freightman, Yasmeen (July 6, 2023). "'She Stole That Moment from Me': Philadelphia High School Principal Who Denied Graduate Diploma After She Danced on Stage Replaced By District". Atlanta Black Star. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
- ^ "Principal Canned After Grad's 'Griddy' Dance: 5 Must-Read PA Stories". Across Pennsylvania, PA Patch. July 6, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
- ^ "Principal At Center of Diploma Drama at Philadelphia High School For Girls Graduation". fox29.com. July 6, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
- ^ "Jeremy Doku scores outrageous first goal for Man City, he's absolutely cooking Vladimír Coufal". SPORTbible. September 16, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.