The ‘Apple’ Dance Creator Is Suing Over Her Viral Choreography

Kelley Heyer’s viral “Apple” dance is popping bitter.

The individual behind the viral choreography impressed by Charli xcx’s hit tune of the identical title is taking authorized motion in opposition to Roblox for allegedly utilizing the dance she created with out her permission.

Heyer first uploaded her “Apple” dance on TikTok in June 2024 on the peak of the singer’s coined “brat summer time,” and filed a copyright just a few months after, in keeping with a lawsuit obtained by PEOPLE, which was filed on April 11 within the Central District Court docket of California.

The criticism alleges that Roblox Company approached her to license the dance to be used in its sport, began promoting an Apple Dance “emote” (a participant avatar) earlier than negotiations had been finalized — and with out her permission.

Heyer’s authorized workforce claims Roblox made $123,000 from promoting the choreography as an emote.

Roblox is a well-liked on-line gaming platform and has roughly 80 million individuals enjoying it each day, as reported by BBC. It has extra month-to-month customers than the Nintendo Change and Sony PlayStation all collectively.

“As a platform powered by a neighborhood of creators, Roblox takes the safety of mental property very significantly and is dedicated to defending mental property rights of unbiased builders and creators to manufacturers and artists each on and off the platform,” Roblox mentioned in an announcement to PEOPLE. Roblox is assured in its place and the propriety of its dealings on this matter and appears ahead to responding in court docket.”

“Roblox moved ahead utilizing Kelley’s IP and not using a signed settlement. Kelley is an unbiased creator who needs to be compensated pretty for her work and we noticed no different possibility than to file go well with to show that. We stay keen and open to settle and hope to return to a peaceable settlement,” Miki Anzai, lawyer for Heyer, tells PEOPLE in an announcement.

Since Charli xcx launched “Apple” and Heyer’s video went viral, the choreography grew to become synonymous with the tune and dominated TikTok. Creators, influencers and celebrities had been replicating the dance in movies of their very own.

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“1 month in the past I made a dance on a whim and now have a look at everybody dancing and alongside and having a lot enjoyable,” Heyer wrote on TikTok on July 14 in a clip that has now been considered over 1 million occasions.

Most lately, Charli xcx carried out the hit throughout her set at Coachella 2025. Kylie Jenner, Alex Consani and Gabbriette had been among the many many noticed doing the famed dance within the crowd.