Many of us celebrated when a preschooler danced her way into virality with her rendition of the “Boots on the Ground” line dance.
With a miniature fan in her hand, perfect timing, and the kind of adorable charm that lights up a screen, LaR’iyah (affectionately nicknamed “Miss Shirley”) became a household name across timelines. Riding the wave of her popularity, the toddler has made appearances at various trail rides and even the music video for “Boots on the Ground.”
Recently, she danced alongside Niecy Nash-Betts on The Jennifer Hudson Show. As her popularity has soared, so have questions—some well-meaning, some loaded—about consent, safety, and the ethics of turning toddlers into digital celebrities.
TikTok creator Synetra Jones (@synetra99) captured the mixed feelings many people have about Miss Shirley’s rise, noting:
“The ones who say she’s doing too much for her age, the ones who say she’s being overworked, no matter what your opinion is, it does not matter because all her mom can see is the bag. The way her mom has this little girl in music videos, doing trail rides and interviews, she is very aware of the exposure she is giving her child. Everything you guys are saying, I’m sure she already thought of. I don’t think that woman cares. I don’t know if she’s living through her child. I don’t know if she really needs the money. I don’t know the reason behind it. She might, you know, believe her little girl just really loves doing it. So even though you guys are very valid in your opinions about how this child is being exposed, it really doesn’t matter.”
Miss Shirley’s mom took to social media to respond to all of the commentary, posting a video of her daughter singing “Where Them Haters At?” and writing:
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“Y’all gotta use my baby to get your likes and followers up…If you go on [anyone’s] page that has discussed my child, and I notice on their page that those are the videos with the most views…That’s how the internet works. They [have to] use whatever is trending the most and talk about it…And of course, right now, it’s Smoochez by Ms. Shirley, duhhh. So do whatever floats y’all boat.
Y’all [too] focused on her dancing…Put that focus on your household and make sure it stays perfect—’cause I never knew it was this many perfect people in the world. Don’t let what we do worry y’all lil tink-tinks.
This stuff really be for social media likes, [because] one lady that has made a video about my child was just asking for her child to be a backup dancer. So don’t let this stuff these folks [are] talking about her fool y’all…”
Her frustration is understandable. However, there’s a difference between hating and holding space for concern. If we’re going to keep invoking “the village,” we have to remember it doesn’t just show up to celebrate. It shows up when something feels off, too.
