Jamaican dancer Gabbidon has called on Prime Minister Andrew Holness to ban TikTok, as concerns and controversy continue to surround the app.
This call comes on the heels of Twenty-three-year-old TikToker Xavier Fogah, more popularly known as Niah Gang, being killed during a TikTok live stream on December 7. With many speculating that his online feuds turned deadly, concerns have grown about how the app is utilised.
According to Gabbidon, who originated the popular Drift dance, the app is no longer a source of joyful entertainment but has become a designation of crime and violence.
“Mister Andrew Holness, mi a beg yuh, please do one ting fin mi, ban TikTok from Jamaica. TikTok was for dancing, fun, and happiness, and now mi find out seh TikTok is fi crime and violence and cussing… Is like a bay violence and badniss and cursing and who nah tell dis a somebody yah fi jump through dem mumma,” Gabbidon said.
He expressed displeasure that TikTok is no longer a place for children and further stated that he would like to leave the platform himself. Gabbidon said while the app could have safely been navigated by children in the past, it has become overrun by beggars and people who use foul language.
“If yuh meck yuh kids guh pan TikTok, it a guh turn yuh pickney into a violence influencer or something that’s bad bro. Everybody a beg. Everybody a tell dem one a neda dem a guh shoot dem one a neda. Bro, mi tiad a it now.”
He went on to call for a return of the TikTok that was all about having fun.
“We need back the TikTok weh everybody can guh pan, weh di happiness deh pan, the dancing, and the fun, and the acting. Wi nuh wah si nuh fishyniss. Wi nuh wah hear bout nuh violence,” Gabbidon said.
Several other Jamaicans have voiced similar concerns, including asking PM Holness to ban the app locally.
Watch the video with Gabbidon below.
