'DWTS' Alum Peta Murgatroyd Recreates Raygun’s Olympic Dance For Halloween
Peta Murgatroyd took Halloween to the next level this year by channeling Olympic breakdancer Raygun in an epic dance tribute.
"Dancing with the Stars" alum Peta Murgatroyd took Halloween to the next level this year by channeling Olympic breakdancer Raygun in an epic dance tribute.
Clips from Raygun’s Paris Olympics performance have taken over social media, with her moves going viral as viewers shared and reacted to her unique style. Her performance, which included unconventional moves like toe touches while lying on one side, floor slides, and a jump inspired by her country’s iconic kangaroo, drew significant attention.
Many are predicting Raygun will be one of the year’s most popular Halloween costumes, with "Dancing with the Stars" alum Peta Murgatroyd leading the trend, unveiling her own epic take on the look.
Peta Murgatroyd Dresses Up As Raygun In New Video
Australian breaker Raygun, born Rachael Gunn, made her Olympic debut in Paris this year, stepping onto the world stage for competitive breaking—also known as breakdancing—for the first time. However, the journey proved anything but smooth.
Raygun struggled in her Olympic matches, ultimately losing all three rounds with an overall score of 54-0. But rather than applause, Raygun’s routine sparked widespread ridicule online.
For Halloween, former "Dancing with the Stars" pro Peta Murgatroyd—originally from Auckland, New Zealand, and raised in Australia from the age of 18 months—channeled Raygun, recreating her dance moves in a spirited Halloween mashup.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy And Their Kids Join In On The Fun
Peta's husband, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, got into the Aussie spirit dressed as a kangaroo, while their three children wore themed costumes: one as a bottle of Vegemite, another as a koala, and the youngest as a shrimp.
Peta and Maks, both professional dancers, have been fan favorites from "Dancing with the Stars," where they met and eventually fell in love. They began dating in 2012 and, after a brief split, rekindled their romance and became engaged in 2015 when Maks proposed onstage during a performance.
They married in July 2017 in a grand ceremony at Oheka Castle in Long Island, New York.
Raygun Takes Over Halloween
If you don’t have a life-size Raygun Halloween decoration on your lawn, are you even trying? pic.twitter.com/yWbkHOgoGv
— Trung Phan (@TrungTPhan) October 25, 2024
Raygun didn't just take over social media this summer, but she is taking over Halloween as well.
A TikTok user recently shared a video showcasing a unique Spotlight find: the “Break Dance Girl” costume.
Captioned, “Who approved this?” the video highlighted the outfit, which mimicked Raygun's from the 2024 Paris Olympics. It was marked down by 30% and priced around $21. Naturally, social media users were thrilled, with many finding humor and charm in the costume.
"Hahaha they are so real for this," one person commented. "Best seller this year," another predicted.
Raygun Addresses Online Hate Regarding Olympics Breaking Routine
On Thursday, August 15, the 36-year-old took to Instagram to address the backlash and defend herself against the criticism she's been facing.
“Hi everyone, Raygun here. I just want to start by thanking all the people who have supported me,” she began in the video. “I really appreciate the positivity and I’m glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives. That’s what I hoped.”
“I didn’t realize that that would also open the door to so much hate, which has frankly been pretty devastating,” Raygun added. “While, I went out there and I had fun, I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off, preparing for the Olympics and I gave my all truly. I’m honored to have been a part of the Australian Olympic Team and to be part of breaking’s Olympic debut."
Raygun Requests Press To ‘Stop Harassing’ Her Family Amid Public Scrutiny
In the wake of intense public attention, Australian breaker Raygun has issued a plea to the press, asking them to “stop harassing” her family.
Facing scrutiny following her recent Olympic performance, Raygun expressed concern over the impact of media coverage on her loved ones, urging the press to respect her family’s privacy during this time.
“But I’d really like to ask the press to please stop harassing my family, my friends, the Australian Breaking community and the broader street dance community,” she said. "Everyone has been through a lot, as a result of this, so I ask you to please respect their privacy," Raygun added. "I’ll be happy to answer more questions on my return to Australia, thanks everyone.”
