The Griddy is a dance move in which a person alternatingly taps their heels, either in place or while walking, while swinging their arms back and forth. Created by high school footballer Allen Davis in 2018, his dance went viral on TikTok in 2019. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has added "throw[ing] your B's" to the dance;[1] this move looks similar to forming "ok" symbols around the eyes.[2]
A teenager 'throwing his B's' while doing the Griddy dance
The name of the dance is taken from the nickname of its creator, Allen "Griddy" Davis.[3][4] As a high school football player, Davis was inspired by the Nae Nae to make his own dance.[5] Davis created The Griddy and uploaded videos to YouTube showing it off. He introduced the dance to one of his best friends and teammates, future Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. When Chase began playing football for LSU, he showed it to fellow wide receiver Justin Jefferson.[citation needed] After performing The Griddy at collegiate level games, Chase and Jefferson brought the dance to the NFL, bringing it popularity among players, celebrities, and fans.[citation needed]
In 2021, the dance was featured as an emote in Fortnite.[7][8]
During the 2022 Pro Bowl, then New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones did The Griddy after a “just for fun” 80 yard rushing touchdown that did not count, marking what many consider to be the final Pro Bowl highlight following the league’s ending of the Pro Bowl game.[9][failed verification]
In 2022, a collaboration between Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Jefferson led to the release of Griddy Toast Crunch, a limited edition run of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, including Jefferson’s likeness on the box.[10][11] The boxes were priced at $50, selling out in 90 minutes.[12]
In July 2023, Lisa Mesi, a high school principal, was fired after denying a graduate her diploma after the graduate did the Griddy on stage.[16][17] Alongside being fired, Mesi also received death threats following the news going viral online.[18]
