Louis Theroux has opened up on the moment his was contacted by TikTok bosses after his 'Jiggle Jiggle' rap track "blew up" their computers. Speaking on his Spotify podcast earlier this week, he welcomed journalist, YouTuber and comedian Amelia Dimoldenberg - otherwise known as Amelia Dims - onto the show as they discussed the iconic tune.
It was not the first time the pair have spoken to each other about the novelty rap. In February last year, Amelia welcomed 53-year-old documentarian and journalist Louis Theroux onto an episode of her popular 'Chicken Shop Date' skit, where she goes on a 'date' with various celebrities - while eating chicken.
During the show, Amelia quizzed Louis about a rap he made while filming one of his own 'Weird Weekend' episodes, which focused on 'Gangsta rap' and premiered all the way back in 2000. After being asked if he can still remember any of the song, Louis went ahead and recited the whole chorus off by heart.
"My money don't jiggle, jiggle, it folds," he began. "I like to see you wiggle, wiggle, for sure. It makes me wanna dribble, dribble, you know. Riding in my Fiat, you really have to see it.
"Six feet two in a compact, no slack. But luckily, the seats go back, I got a knack to relax in my mind. Sipping some red, red wine."
At the time, the recital may have just seemed like a funny moment between the duo as they sat opposite each other in a take away diner. But, it soon became a viral sensation on social media - even years after the rap was first ever created more than two decades ago.
Across the spring of 2022, millions of TikTokers featured the rap in their videos as it birthed a worldwide dance craze. Celebrities even got in on the act, including the likes of Shakira, Jason Derulo, Lizzo, Snopp Dogg and Rita Ora.
In March of the same year, Manchester DJs Duke and Jones fashioned a sleek remix of the song and shared it on TikTok. The track went on to be used in 1.2 million videos on the platform.
Reflecting back on this period in time, Louis and Amelia discussed their initial reaction to the sudden popularity on the podcast. "We should probably talk about 'Jiggle Jiggle' just for a second shouldn't we," he told Amelia, who replied: "Yeah sure, why not."
Louis went on to explain how after he and Amelia filmed their Chicken Shop Date episode, her video editing team "were kind enough" to send Louis over a rough copy of the episode, "to give us an idea of what it would look like."
He added: "I did think, 'wow, they put the rap in, okay'. My wife looked at me and was like, 'tell them to take the rap out, everyone knows that rap, it's so old'." After letting out a gasp, Amelia replied: "Really?!"
Louis went on: "And I was like, 'yeah, I know what you mean, but they know their audience and let's not get in the way'... Isn't that extraordinary though as it turns out that was my route to fame and vast wealth.
"So what happened then from my end was a few weeks after it went out everyone was happy and said 'that's really funny'. Then a few weeks on, my agent got in touch and said TikTok had been in touch, their computers were blowing up because of the vast demand for the TikTok rap sensation that was 'Jiggle Jiggle' that had been remixed by Duke and Jones.
"Two young women called Jess and Brook had done a dance, and celebrities around the world were doing it. And it was literally getting hundreds of millions and maybe even billions of hits and views."
Amelia then recalled a text message Louis sent her at the time, were he told her: "Thank you for the interview, now I can't leave the house without being hounded by young people." She added how she then thought: "Oh my God, I've ruined Louis Theroux's life."
"Well you definitely didn't ruin my life," Louis hit back. "The only downside is that I feel I got famous to a level I've never experienced before based on something I don't actually do."
Louis Theroux's podcast is available on Spotify. Fans can listen in as he "embarks on a series of in-depth and freewheeling conversations with a curated collection of fascinating figures from across the globe".
