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“Refreshing” or “Frightening”? RFK Jr appears in a promotional video reviving the viral Harlem Shake dance

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has divided the MAGA world after appearing alongside Kanye West's ex-girlfriend in a promotional video attempting to bring back a decades-old viral trend – The Harlem Shake.

The former presidential candidate appeared in the short clip, which aims to “make America whole again,” alongside Trump enthusiast-turned-model Amber Rose.

Rose asks RFK Jr. if he “wants a shake.” He shrugs and begins to shake as a short clip of the Harlem Shake begins to play, apparently in an attempt to perform the dance that gained widespread popularity in early 2013.

“Not that kind of shake,” Rose replies, “a healthy shake,” pointing to a juicer with a selection of vegetables in it. “Ohhhh,” says RFK Jr.

Comments under the video, posted on RFK JR's official social media accounts, ranged from celebratory to dismissive to outright critical. Some praised his social media team for their sense of humor.

“A sense of humor! So refreshing,” one user wrote, and another added, “Agreed. The whole team does it. VERY refreshing! This also applies to the love for our country, which we hear again.”

Another wrote: “I love it. Something has changed, Bobby, and I love watching it unfold. It’s probably more important to him than any of us really understand, and it’s inspiring.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appears in a video promoting healthy living on X, performing the viral 2013 Harlem Shake dance (@RobertKennedyJr/X)

Others were less impressed with RFK Jr.'s moves. When asked by a user about the video, Kennedy's former vice president Nicole Shanahan tried to distance herself, writing, “We have different teams. I have nothing to do with Bobby’s social media or news.”

“I realize this is all in good fun…but…don't do this again,” one user wrote in response, while another called the video “so awful.” “Sick 11 year old meme guys,” another replied.

“The Harlem Shake” was an internet meme that went viral in February 2013. In videos, groups of people in different social settings dance to a short excerpt from the song “Harlem Shake.”

At the height of its popularity, thousands of Harlem Shake videos were created and uploaded to YouTube every day.

“I thought Republicans hated laughter,” one user said, while another branded those involved “CLOWNS.”

Other social media users pointed out that the reworking of a meme over a decade later and out of nowhere was in response to protests from Trump supporters that the former president and his vice president, JD Vance, were “weird” – a line of attack that is being pursued , probably wouldn't help the Democrats.

“You don’t find this absolutely strange?” wrote one user. “They are literally the ones making fun of Harris for laughing,” another added.