Dad in his 50s surprises everyone by joining teen daughter’s dance battle — there was only one winner
When a dad in his 50s, Chris Starkey (@chris.starkey.142), stepped onto the dance floor to face off against his teenage daughter, Brooklyn, no one expected what came next. With surprising moves and infectious energy, he quickly stole the spotlight—and the hearts of millions online. The dad-and-daughter showdown unfolded to the beat of Flo Rida’s Low and just like that, the video went viral, offering the joy the internet needed during the long, quiet days of lockdown in March 2020.
In the caption of the video, Starkey wrote, “It’s a quarantine Monday, PLEASE VOTE. My daughter challenged me to a dance-off and said I don’t have it anymore. See that closet in the back, she is still crying in it!!! VOTE VOTE!!!” One look at their playful banter and Starkey’s perfectly clumsy dad moves, and it’s clear why the video racked up millions of views since it was posted on social media, as reported by Upworthy. As the people on the internet showered him with praise and appreciation, Starkey also revealed that it made him emotional. In that moment, it was the perfect dose of joy and togetherness the world craved—and somehow, it still brings a smile every time you watch it.
One Facebook user, Bobbi Glenn, commented, “Love this! Get it, Chris! My daughter asked me to do a TikTok video with her yesterday, where I sadly learned I don’t know how to spell TikTok, and she’s actually a better dancer than me. I’ve got some new life goals.” Another person, Lisa Reece DeLeon, wrote, “-10 points for the push, otherwise it would have been a tie - she killed it, but you kept up. Best thing on social media today, thanks for sharing.” Similarly, Pippi Kiteley commented, “I watched it four times and showed it to my daughter who’s got the same moves as yours and some Vail schwag too, thanks for the inspiration dude!”
Another Facebook user, Alicia Roscup, chimed in and said, “Saw your video through a friend's share and I had to come tell you directly....you are AWESOME! Not only can you dance, but the fact that you are making this memory with your daughter and family is something that will not soon be forgotten. PS- I am a professional dance instructor and definitely say you can groove whether you are 29 or 51. God bless!” Arianne Autaubo Martinez also said, “That’s it. I’m done. I can die peacefully now... this is by far the best thing I've ever seen and nothing will ever compare.”
Meanwhile, in a similar incident, Sharidon Johnson was just completing his household chores when he found himself caught off guard by an impromptu dance-off challenge from his daughter. With mom capturing the video, Johnson and his daughter danced to the smooth rhythm of A Tribe Called Quest’s Electric Relaxation (Relax Yourself Girl). The battle went a few rounds, with his daughter's wild moves stealing the show, while her dad matched her with everything he had to offer. However, as the challenge went on for quite some time, Johnson knew it was time to back out, as reported by E! News.