Lindsey Shaw/TikTok/Instagram
- Actor Lindsey Shaw was criticized for imitating a Black TikToker's dance.
- Her former co-star Devon Werkheiser also participated in the dance trend.
- She has since apologized and announced a social media break in response to backlash.
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"Pretty Little Liars" actor Lindsey Shaw announced that she was taking a break from TikTok following backlash after she was accused of mocking a Black TikToker's dance.
In the now-deleted TikTok, which was reuploaded by user @nonotcandace, Shaw can be seen reacting to a Black creator performing a viral dance craze dubbed the "Don't Spill Challenge," saying: "Hey, are you OK? What the f— is this?" before imitating the dance.
Many users considered Shaw's rendition of the dance to be problematic, especially since she had previously appeared to react positively to former "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide" co-star, Devon Werkheiser when he performed the same dance on his own TikTok page, commenting "Get it!!!!" followed by cry-laughing face emojis.
"For anyone confused: She PRAISED her white friend, Devon, for doing the trend but insulted the black creators," a TikTok user said in one such comment under the re-uploaded video.
Shaw responded to the controversy in a video uploaded to her Instagram story on Monday July 12, in which she said, "I did not mean anything in any kinda way, I am learning every day as I think everybody is and this kind of hate just needs to evaporate from the planet no matter who it's directed towards. Crocodile tears? No, dude, like, this is like, my soul out there. If you know anything about what I stand for or what I believe in then you know that it's not this. I am sorry you were offended."
Announcing that she would be temporarily leaving social media, Shaw added: "I gotta just go off of here for a little while. But I appreciate you, I love you, and I'll be back. And I hope that I know more, and I hope we all have a little more compassion and understanding."
Following Shaw's Instagram story, Wekseiser also addressed the controversy. Responding to a fan's question about the issue in a TikTok, he said, "Lindsey [made] a very unnecessary video hating on the most popular trend on TikTok that happens to be created by Black creator before getting rather reactionary and defensive in her comment section before deleting the video," he said in a TikTok.
He added, "Friends don't get canceled in real life," and said that Shaw has a "good heart and is dealing with personal issues."
This controversy comes after rising concern around the way Black creators are being treated on the platform. Recently, Black TikTokers went on "strike" in order to highlight dance appropriation by white creators, while "The View" host Sunny Hostin called out TikTok star Charli D'Amelio for emulating Black TikTokers' dances without crediting them.
Lindsey Shaw did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
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