The Wiggles, the iconic Australian children's music group, has issued a statement after two of its members appeared in a controversial music video that many interpreted as alluding to drug use.
The music video for Keli Holiday's song 'Ecstasy', which has since been removed, featured Blue Wiggle Anthony Field and his nephew Dominic Field, who plays the Tree of Wisdom during a performance. Footage showed them dancing in the background, triggering concerns among parents and youth professionals.
A spokesperson for The Wiggles stressed that the group does not condone drug use in any form and clarified that the video was produced without their approval. In a statement shared with The West Australian newspaper, they acknowledged widespread concern about the clip.
We understand that a video circulating on social media has caused concern for many parents and professionals, and we want to address that directly, the group stated. The Wiggles do not support or condone the use of drugs in any form. The content being shared was not created or approved by us, and we have asked for it to be removed. While Keli Holiday is a friend of The Wiggles, the video and the music added to it were created independently and without our knowledge.
The video was filmed during the TikTok Awards earlier this month, where members of The Wiggles appeared on stage with Keli Holiday during the performance of his song 'Dancing2'. The TikTok clip, which was intended to promote the new single 'Ecstasy', garnered over 92,000 views before it was taken down.
Holiday described the video with the caption The Wiggles get it, which further fueled the backlash due to the song's chorus lyrics mentioning a pocket full of ecstasy. The Wiggles reiterated their commitment to providing family-friendly entertainment.
Founded in 1991 from a university project, The Wiggles have become a global sensation among young children. Anthony Field is the only original member still part of the group. Keli Holiday, whose real name is Adam Hyde, is known for his work as part of the electronic dance duo Peking Duk.
The BBC has reached out to Holiday's management for comment on the situation.
