Charli XCX’s latest album Brat has been making waves, and one particular track, “Apple,” has unexpectedly become a viral sensation, thanks to a catchy dance created by NYC-based actor Kelley Heyer. What started as a spontaneous expression to an “underappreciated” song has exploded into a full-blown internet phenomenon, with the #AppleDance challenge taking over TikTok and beyond. From Charli XCX herself to the cast of the movie Twisters, everyone is getting in on the “Apple” dance craze, solidifying its place as the dance of the summer.
Kelley Heyer, the mastermind behind the viral choreography, shared her story in a recent interview. Heyer, who started her TikTok journey during the pandemic as a creative outlet, initially focused on style videos and trend commentary. However, the infectious beat of “Apple” inspired her to create her very first dance. Choreographed in pajamas in front of her mirror, the “Apple” dance was born organically from Heyer’s personal connection to the song.
In a conversation, Heyer detailed the dance’s incredible ascent, the surreal experience of Charli XCX reaching out, and even the humorous speculation about a potential Kamala Harris rendition. She breaks down the dance moves, revealing the lyrical inspiration behind each gesture.
Decoding the “Apple” Dance: A Lyric-by-Lyric Breakdown
“I think all credit goes to Charli,” Heyer emphasizes, grounding the dance in the song’s essence. She explains the moves are directly inspired by the lyrics and the feeling of the music. “So ‘I think the apple’s rotten right to the core,’ that line has a real pull and ooze.” This lyric, she describes, evokes a feeling that led to the core-centric movement: “What’s at my core? My heart and my pussy.” This translates into one hand moving across the heart and another sliding down, embodying the song’s raw emotional core.
The beat then shifts, and Heyer incorporates “an and-eight that’s really fun.” For the line, “from all the things passed down from all the apples coming before,” referencing generational trauma themes in the song, she visualized “a little staircase and a little apple falling down the staircase.” This imagery informs the hip movements: “well my hand is by my hip already, so we’ll just go hip, hip, hip.” A crucial element is the pause: “the hardest part is to hold for one beat. Everyone goes early, but hold one beat.” The subsequent “quick and-one looks like you’re putting a seatbelt on, and Charli loves to drive,” a nod to Charli XCX’s known love for driving.
The choreography culminates with “I split the apple down symmetrical lines,” cueing the apple-splitting hand motion. Heyer notes the variations: “Sometimes some people do a little apple shape, some people do a heart shape. I think it’s fine because the apple is the heart.” The line “what I find is kind of scary,” prompts a classic TikTok head shake, and finally, “makes me just wanna drive,” another signature Charli line, concludes the sequence.
Kelley Heyer demonstrating the Charli XCX Apple dance moves
From Zero to Viral: The Dance Takes Off
Heyer recounts the initial days after posting the dance: “When I posted my very first dance, [the “Apple” sound] was at about 200 videos.” The momentum gradually built, “over the course of two weeks, it got to about 2,000 and people were tagging me.” The turning point came when Charli XCX, along with Troye Sivan and Terrence O’Connor, joined in. “And then at about the two week mark, Charli, Troye [Sivan], and Terrence [O’Connor] did the dance.” This celebrity endorsement propelled the dance to a new level of virality. “It wouldn’t have gone viral in the way it did if they hadn’t done it at that point, because it jumped to another level. June 14th, 200 videos, July 14th, just over 100,000 videos, and now today it’s over 400,000.”
The “Apple” dance’s reach extends beyond human dancers. “Pets doing it also became a huge thing,” Heyer laughs. “Pets. I’ve seen mascots, I’ve seen animations, this one gal made a sweater. People are so talented. It’s just amazing.” This widespread creativity highlights the dance’s accessibility and appeal across diverse online communities.
Charli XCX’s Seal of Approval
The ultimate validation came directly from Charli XCX. “Have you heard from Charli?” the interviewer asks. “Yeah,” Heyer confirms, “After she did that video, she sent me a super sweet message saying how much she loved the dance and she offered me tickets to her Madison Square Garden show.” The prospect of seeing Charli perform the dance live is exciting for both Heyer and fans. “I bet she’ll do the dance on stage,” the interviewer suggests. “That’s what everyone’s been saying.” Heyer adds, “And I’ve just been seeing videos on my phone of people at the clubs in New York City or at Fire Island doing the dance. And I was like, this is crazy. You guys should invite me. I wanna go!”
Kelley Heyer addresses credit concerns regarding the Apple dance on TikTok
Navigating Credit and Brat Summer Speculation
The topic of credit in viral trends is often complex. Heyer addresses it with grace: “I didn’t appreciate people using my name as an excuse to be mean to other people, but I also wanted to make it clear to those people that I so appreciate the intent.” While acknowledging the importance of credit, she maintains a balanced perspective. “Credit for anything is important, but being tagged in every single video of a TikTok dance I made was not the hill I was gonna die on. So it’s really nice when people do, and if they don’t, we just gotta let it go.”
The interview touches on the “brat explosion” and the humorous idea of political figures embracing the trend. “Obviously there’s been a brat explosion with the Kamala stuff and I feel like “Apple” is the song that reminds people of the coconut tree line. Have you seen a resurgence?” Heyer jokingly predicted, “I give it one week until Kamala does ‘Apple.’” While still speculative, the idea highlights the dance’s cultural permeation and potential for even wider reach.
Beyond the Dance: Kelley Heyer’s Artistic Journey
Despite the TikTok fame, Heyer emphasizes her primary identity as an actor. “sometimes when articles will just reference me as a TikTok influencer, I’m like, no, I’m an actor. I’m really good. I’m trained and that’s what I wanna do.” She sees social media as a tool for self-promotion and career advancement in the acting world. “If anything, social media was my way of being my own publicist. How do I get my face out and how do I create my own press and my own buzz? And so I put a lot of work into that and it’s worked out.”
The virality of the “Apple” dance has already opened new doors. “Has virality opened any other doors for you with acting?” Heyer confirms, “I think it opened doors adjacent.” She mentions filming “a very exciting TikTok” and experiencing increased recognition. “I was walking around the day after Charli did the dance for the first time, it was Pride Weekend in New York, and it was so great ’cause everyone was like, “You’re the ‘Apple’ girl.” And I was like, yeah. Absolutely I am.”
The Charli XCX “Apple” dance is more than just a fleeting internet trend; it’s a testament to the power of music, creativity, and the unexpected ways viral moments can emerge and connect people globally. And for Kelley Heyer, it’s a significant step in a multifaceted artistic career.
