Internet fame is a weird, fast-moving beast. One minute you’re a teenager in Louisiana dancing in your bedroom, and the next, you’re the face of a generation with millions of eyes tracking your every move. Addison Rae knows this better than basically anyone. But with that kind of massive spotlight comes a massive amount of scrutiny, and for Addison, that scrutiny has often centered on some pretty heavy accusations regarding race and cultural appropriation.
Honestly, if you’ve been on the internet in the last few years, you’ve probably seen the headlines. From "blackfishing" claims to resurfaced videos about social movements, the conversation around Addison Rae and racism has been a constant hum in the background of her career. But what’s the actual truth behind the noise? It’s not just one single event; it’s a series of moments that forced a young creator to face the reality of her own privilege in real-time.
The 2020 BLM Video Controversy
The biggest storm hit in the summer of 2020. While the world was reeling from the death of George Floyd and the subsequent global uprising for racial justice, the internet did what it does best: it started digging. What they found was a video Addison had reposted four years prior—back when she was about 15 or 16.
In the clip, a woman argued that the Black Lives Matter movement was a "cult" and pushed an "All Lives Matter" narrative. For a star whose fan base included millions of young people of color, the backlash was instant and intense. Addison went silent for about two weeks, sparking all sorts of wild rumors (some people even thought she was pregnant, which her then-boyfriend Bryce Hall eventually debunked).
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When she finally came back, she didn't dodge it. She posted a long apology on Twitter, admitting that her "privilege" had blinded her. She wrote:
"Because of my privilege, I didn’t understand and wasn’t educated enough on the social injustices facing the Black community. All lives CANNOT matter until Black lives do."
It was a pivot point. Some fans accepted it as a "kid making a mistake," while others felt it was just PR damage control. But it set a precedent for how she’d have to navigate her identity as a white creator in a space heavily influenced by Black culture.
The "Blackfishing" and Makeup Allegations
Shortly after the video drama, Addison hit another wall. This time, it was about her physical appearance. She posted a Snapchat story where her skin appeared significantly darker than usual—several shades darker, actually.
The internet immediately jumped on the term blackfishing. If you aren’t familiar, that’s when a non-Black person uses makeup, tanning, or even surgery to appear Black or racially ambiguous. Critics argued that Addison was "costuming" Blackness for aesthetic clout while never having to deal with the actual systemic racism that comes with being Black.
She never officially addressed this specific makeup incident with a formal statement, which left a sour taste in many people's mouths. It highlighted a recurring theme in her career: the thin line between "having a deep tan" and "appropriating a culture."
The Jimmy Fallon Dance Segment
In March 2021, Addison appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. She performed a medley of eight viral TikTok dances. It should have been a career high, but it turned into a PR nightmare.
The problem? Most of those dances—like the "Savage" challenge and the "Corvette Corvette" dance—were created by Black creators like Keara Wilson and Jalaiah Harmon. Yet, Addison was the one on the late-night stage getting the "big break" moment while the original choreographers weren't even mentioned in the segment.
It wasn't necessarily that Addison stole them—TikTok is built on sharing—but the optics were terrible. It looked like another example of a white creator profiting off Black creativity. Jimmy Fallon eventually had the original creators on the show to give them their flowers, and Addison told TMZ she thought they "deserved all the credit," but the damage to her reputation as a "culture vulture" was already done.
Meeting Trump and the Political Fallout
Politics and race are often inextricably linked in the public eye. In 2021, Addison was spotted greeting Donald Trump at a UFC event. For many, this was the "smoking gun" that tied back to her 2016 repost. The logic for critics was simple: if she supports a figure they viewed as racially divisive, then her previous apologies for "not being educated" felt hollow.
Addison later told the LA Times that she wasn't "supporting" him but was merely being "friendly" because it was a "very uncommon occasion" to meet a former president. Whether you believe her or not usually depends on which side of the political aisle you sit on, but it added another layer to the "Addison Rae racism" search queries that still trend today.
The 2025/2026 Rebrand: Has the Internet Moved On?
Fast forward to now. Addison has basically undergone a total metamorphosis. She’s moved away from the "generic TikToker" vibe and into a high-art, synth-pop era that’s being compared to Britney Spears and Charli XCX.
Her music—like the hit "Diet Pepsi"—and her proximity to "alt-cool" icons have shifted the conversation. In 2026, the "horn effect" (where one negative trait ruins a person's entire reputation) seems to be wearing off. She’s focused on her craft, she's stopped making the "cringe" content that made her an easy target, and she's being much more selective about her public appearances.
But does a rebrand erase the past? Not entirely. While many of her newer, younger fans might not even know about the 2020 controversies, the "Addison Rae racism" tag remains a case study in how influencers handle—or mishandle—social responsibility.
What Can We Learn From This?
If you're an aspiring creator or just someone following the drama, there are a few real-world takeaways here:
- Credit is Currency: If you’re using someone else’s art, dance, or vibe, tag them. It’s not just polite; it’s essential for career longevity.
- The Internet is Forever: Reposts from 2016 will find you in 2020. Every time.
- Apologies Require Action: Addison’s apology was a start, but her shift toward elevating other creators and being more aware of her "privilege" is what actually helped her weather the storm.
- Silence Isn't Always Golden: Sometimes, staying quiet during a controversy (like the blackfishing claims) lets the narrative spiral out of control.
Addison Rae's journey isn't just about TikTok dances. It’s a messy, complicated look at how we hold celebrities accountable in a digital age where everyone has a receipt and nobody ever really forgets.
Next Steps for Staying Informed
To better understand the nuances of these cultural conversations, you should look into the history of cultural appropriation vs. appreciation in the music industry. Comparing Addison’s career trajectory to other white pop stars who rose through Black-influenced genres (like Miley Cyrus or Justin Timberlake) provides a much broader context than just one person's TikTok feed. Keep an eye on how her 2026 tour handles diversity and creator credits—it’ll be the ultimate test of how much she’s actually learned.