Beloved Australian children's entertainment group, The Wiggles, have been forced to issue a public statement after a controversial TikTok video featuring their members and a song alluding to drug use sparked alarm among parents.
Unauthorised Video Sparks Concern
The incident revolves around a video shared by musician Keli Holiday, whose real name is Adam Hyde. The clip, which has since been deleted, was filmed at the TikTok Awards and featured The Wiggles star Anthony Field, the Blue Wiggle, and Dominic Field, known as the Wiggles' Tree of Wisdom, dancing. The footage was set to Holiday's recent single, "Ecstasy", which contains clear references to the party drug MDMA.
A spokesperson for the band told The West Australian that the content was created "without our knowledge" and has caused significant worry for families and professionals alike. The group moved quickly to distance themselves from the video, emphasising their core values.
The Wiggles' Official Stance
In their official statement, The Wiggles were unequivocal in their position. "The Wiggles do not support or condone the use of drugs in any form," the statement read. They confirmed that the video was "not created or approved by us" and that they had formally requested its removal from social media platforms.
While acknowledging that Adam Hyde is a friend of the band, the statement clarified that the video and its accompanying soundtrack were produced independently. The group assured the public that their actual performances at the TikTok Awards were "family-friendly and fun," and the controversial clip was "edited together separately and without our awareness."
History of Controversial Associations
This is not the first time The Wiggles have faced public criticism over a song. Back in 2020, a clip from 2014 of the group singing "The Pappadum Song" resurfaced online, leading to accusations of cultural insensitivity.
The song, which featured the band repeating the word "pappadum" while an Indian performer danced silently, was met with backlash. At the time, Anthony Field, who wrote and directed the original clip, issued an apology on X (formerly Twitter). He stated that the song was "meant as a celebration" and that it was "not my intention to be culturally insensitive to the Indian community, or to add value to ethnic stereotyping."
Formed in 1991, The Wiggles have become one of the most successful children's groups in history, selling over 23 million DVDs and 7 million CDs throughout their long career. This recent event highlights the challenges faced by family-friendly brands in the age of social media and user-generated content.
