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Library/Creator moment/Backpack Kid's Swish Swish SNL performance
Grade B28 sourcesHIS-00036

Backpack Kid's Swish Swish SNL performance

Creator moment · 2017 · Notable

40Editable slideCertificate

A 15-year-old dancer's SNL cameo became reaction GIFs and a Fortnite emote.

Saturday Night Live

@nbcsnl · May 21, 2017

Swish Swish #SNLFinale @katyperry

8.5K229
Post · @nbcsnl on X
‘Flossing’ Backpack Kid Joins Fortnite Copyright Lawsuit Wave
Bloomberg Law
Katy Perry - Swish Swish (Live on SNL)
KatyPerryVEVO on YouTube
Katy Perry - Swish Swish (Official) ft. Nicki Minaj
KatyPerryVEVO on YouTube
Swish Swish #SNLFinale @katyperry
@nbcsnl on X

Spread Score

How it works
Reach38Contagion35Breadth70Velocity11Longevity3940

Numbers

Seed to peak
1 day
May 21 ’17 to May 22 ’17
Platforms
5
Started on X
Origin
Mixed
Entertainment

Mechanics

  • Platform jump
  • Press loopPrimary
  • Underdog
  • Maker origin
  • Controversy

How it spread

Trace the origin

Perry invited Horning onto SNL. Viewers turned his dance into reaction GIFs and called him Backpack Kid. Tutorials and football celebrations followed. The Floss entered Fortnite, and his mother sued Epic Games over its use.

Google searchesApr ’17JunJulSepNovFeb ’18AprJulOctDecPeakTVXPressOpen webYouTube
TVXPressOpen webYouTube

13 more events on this chart

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Timeline (16)

  1. May 2017

    Russell Horning precursor · May 20 ’17

    Horning performed his arm-swinging dance during Katy Perry's Swish Swish set on SNL.[1][2][3][4][11]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. Austin S. Harris (@austinsharris) seed · May 21 ’17

    Harris posted a reaction GIF comparing daytime tiredness with dancing at 3 am.[5]

  3. Pitchfork press · May 21 ’17

    Pitchfork covered the performance and identified the dancer as Instagram's Russell Got Barzz.[1]

Changelogupdated Oct 12 ’26
  1. 2026-10-12Added: 16 events, 22 sources · Score 40
Origin
Mixed
Sector
Entertainment
Region
US
Reported figure
—
Evidence
Grade B

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New cases, every week

How the next thing spread, the week it does.

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Google searchesApr ’17JunJulSepNovFeb ’18AprJulOctDecPeakTVXPressOpen webYouTube
TVXPressOpen webYouTube

13 more events on this chart

Join free to see them

  1. May 2017

    Russell Horning precursor · May 20 ’17

    Horning performed his arm-swinging dance during Katy Perry's Swish Swish set on SNL.[1][2][3][4][11]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. Austin S. Harris (@austinsharris) seed · May 21 ’17

    Harris posted a reaction GIF comparing daytime tiredness with dancing at 3 am.[5]

  3. Pitchfork press · May 21 ’17

    Pitchfork covered the performance and identified the dancer as Instagram's Russell Got Barzz.[1]

  1. owner response · May 21 ’17

  2. peak · May 22 ’17

Join free to see the other 13 events and the full chart. Free, on every case.

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Why it worked

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  1. 1
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  3. 3

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