DETENTION!

World Leader Apologizes for Leading Kids in Cringe Six-Seven Dance

Keir Starmer’s photo-op meant to spotlight an education initiative briefly veered into TikTok territory.

A visiting dignitary trying to charm a room full of schoolchildren instead ended up apologizing for accidentally reviving a banned meme dance. The gaffe came as the prime minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, visited Welland Academy in Peterborough, a city around 70 miles north of London, with his education secretary. He was there to promote the expansion of the free school meals program, but, after a pupil noted they were on page 67 during a reading session, he responded with the hand-juggling gesture tied to the viral “6-7” dance—setting off instant chaos. “We are not over that yet, the 6-7, it’s still very much a thing,” one teacher said. As he exited, the prime minister told head teacher Jo Anderson the class had been “a bit wild,” only to learn the dance was banned. “You know, children get into trouble for saying that in school,” she told him. He quickly apologized, insisting, “I didn’t start it, Miss.” He later leaned into the gaffe, posting the clip on Instagram with the caption: “I think I just got myself put in detention…” The “6-7” meme—born from U.S. rapper Skrilla’s song Doot Doot (67)—has swept through Generation Alpha, been named Dictionary.com’s 2025 Word of the Year and spawned viral stars.