TikTokers dance – A wave of TikTok videos using the song “Austin Bop” is drawing backlash after users posted dance clips that appear to mock the 2025 killing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, including motions resembling stabbing and jokes aimed at his family.
A Texas teen’s death is being turned into choreography on TikTok—and the backlash has been swift.
On June 24, 2026, widespread condemnation erupted after users began posting videos that appear to mock the killing of Austin Metcalf. The clips show people dancing to a rap song called “Austin Bop.” In some videos, dancers make stabbing motions. Others hold knives as they mimic the fatal attack. while additional posts include jokes and memes aimed at Metcalf and his family.
The trend is tied to the 2025 killing of the 17-year-old. Austin Metcalf was fatally stabbed during an altercation at a high school track meet. Afterward, Karmelo Anthony was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison, with a jury rejecting his claim of self-defense.
The music driving the viral posts is also part of what’s fueling outrage. The song used in the videos includes lyrics referencing the stabbing and Metcalf’s death. Another track circulating online reportedly targets Austin Metcalf’s twin brother. Hunter Metcalf. who was with him in the aftermath of the attack.
Across social media, users have condemned the trend as cruel, with many accusing creators of turning a family’s tragedy into viral entertainment. The videos have pushed the focus back onto what the internet chooses to remix—and what it should never treat as a punchline.
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