Addison Rae Faces Backlash as Her Past Controversies Resurface

Addison Rae is having her moment. With the release of her debut album, fans have been quick to crown the former TikTok star as pop’s newest It girl, praising her Y2K-inspired visuals, catchy hooks, and cool girl energy. She even got an 8.0 score on Pitchfork for the album (which is extremely high in Pitchfork standards). But as is often the case with internet-born fame, her rise hasn’t come without backlash and problematic parts of her past online resurfacing. 

A video from 2021 has resurfaced showing Addison Rae excitedly approaching Donald Trump at a UFC fight, introducing herself with a wide smile and eager energy. Fans were quick to critique the interaction, calling it tone-deaf, especially given the political climate at the time.

Adding fuel to the fire is her former relationship with fellow TikToker Bryce Hall, who has publicly expressed support for Trump. The pair dated on and off from 2019 to 2022, and the connection has only reignited questions about Addison's political leanings.

She also faced criticism in 2020 after reposting content in 2016 that labeled Black Lives Matter a “cult” and said that all lives matter. Addison later apologized. "Because of my privilege, I didn't understand and wasn't educated enough on the social injustices facing the Black community," she stated.  "All lives cannot matter until Black lives do." Rae has also clarified that she does not support Trump.

“I mean, I don’t support Trump,” she told the Los Angeles Times in 2021. “And if someone does, that’s their opinion and I respect everyone’s opinion, for each their own. But it’s very rare on occasion that you ever get to meet a former president, and I think most people could agree with me on that. It’s very uncommon. And I consider myself a friendly person, and so introducing myself does not mean I stand behind anything that any respective person condones.”

While many are celebrating her transformation from influencer to full-fledged pop artist, others are digging up her past—and they haven’t forgotten. Not everyone is convinced these past mistakes deserve to be forgotten. While some believe she’s grown and moved on, others remain wary, hesitant to fully embrace her rebrand, especially with so much of her past visible to millions on the internet.