The Wiggles, the renowned Australian children’s music group, has released a statement following the appearance of two of its members in a music video seemingly referencing drug use.
The now-deleted video promoted musician Keli Holiday’s song, “Ecstasy,” and featured Blue Wiggle Anthony Field and his nephew Dominic Field, known as the Tree of Wisdom, dancing in the background.
A representative for The Wiggles stated that the group “does not condone” drug use “in any form” and emphasized that the video was created without the band’s endorsement.
Reports from Australian media indicate the TikTok video garnered over 92,000 views before its removal.
“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’s statement to The West Australian newspaper read.
“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.”
They added, “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 footage was captured at the TikTok Awards earlier this month, where members of The Wiggles joined Holiday, whose real name is Adam Hyde, onstage during his performance of “Dancing2.”
Holiday promoted his new single, “Ecstasy,” by sharing the video on TikTok with the caption “The Wiggles get it.” The song contains the lyrics: “Hey girl, come on dance with me. You and your pocket full of ecstasy.”
Speaking to The West Australian, a Wiggles spokesperson confirmed that the Awards performances were “family-friendly” and that the video was “edited together separately and without our awareness.”
Formed in 1991 as a university project, The Wiggles have since become an international sensation among young children. Anthony Field is the sole remaining original member.
Keli Holiday is the solo endeavor of Hyde, also recognized as one half of the electronic dance duo Peking Duk.
The BBC has reached out to Holiday’s management for comment.
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