Home Money & Business Business Coco Gauff scrawls ‘RIP TikTok USA’ on a television camera during the Australian Open

Coco Gauff scrawls ‘RIP TikTok USA’ on a television camera during the Australian Open

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Coco Gauff scrawls ‘RIP TikTok USA’ on a television camera during the Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia — Following her victory in the Australian Open, American tennis player Coco Gauff expressed her sadness over the recent removal of TikTok from app stores in the United States. She inscribed “RIP TikTok USA” along with a broken heart symbol on a camera lens, showing her dismay right after defeating Belinda Bencic in an intense match. The win, which concluded with scores of 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, took place in Melbourne’s main stadium shortly after the popular app was no longer accessible on major app platforms in the U.S.

During her post-match conference, Gauff shared her frustrations about the app’s absence, stating, “I could not access it after my match. I honestly thought I would be able to get away with it because I was in Australia.” Reflecting on her time spent on the app since its earlier days as Musical.ly, she mentioned how much she enjoyed it as a form of escape before matches. Gauff humorously suggested that the app’s disappearance might motivate her to read more books and become a “more productive human.”

Often after matches, tennis players have the opportunity to share messages on-camera, usually with a pen handed to them. Gauff paused thoughtfully during this occasion before deciding to express her feelings on the TikTok situation using blue ink. Previously, Gauff had used this platform to voice her concerns over pressing social issues, such as gun violence in the U.S.

At 20, Gauff is recognized as one of the premier tennis players globally, having recently secured a title at the 2023 U.S. Open. She frequently utilized TikTok to connect with her audience and partake in trending challenges. Gauff commented on the recurring nature of having to find new social media platforms, stating, “I feel this is the third or fourth time this has happened. This time it’s just like, ‘Whatever.’ If I wake up and it doesn’t work, fine.” She noted the emergence of a new app called RedNote, indicating people’s resilience in adapting to new platforms.

In her remarks, Gauff expressed hope that TikTok would endure, as she appreciated its role in helping small businesses and creators thrive, along with sharing compelling stories. She acknowledged her connections made through the app while recognizing the complexities that might surround its removal due to security concerns.

The shutdown of TikTok in the U.S. followed a federal law that necessitated its China-based parent company, ByteDance, either to sell the platform or face a ban. Consequently, major app stores like those operated by Apple and Google were barred from offering TikTok, and users were informed via the platform’s website about its unavailability.

Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1-ranked player and two-time defending champion in Melbourne, also spoke about the situation, saying, “I heard about that. This is not something we can control, and I hope they’re going to figure it out, because I love TikTok.”