The Backpack Kid doesn’t carry an empty backpack, it contains a water bottle, charger, and earbuds to keep it weighted while he dances.
The Backpack Kid has taken the internet and the world by storm with his simple yet addictive dance moves.
Who is the kid behind the backpack? Where did he come from and how did he become famous overnight?
Here are 30 facts about Backpack Kid:
Despite being known as “Backpack Kid,” his real name is Russell Horning and he is 21 years old. He was born and raised in Lawrenceville, Georgia on December 19, 2001, and has a younger sister named Jill.
Russell started to gain popularity after Rihanna gave him an Instagram shout-out in 2016, which resulted in 55,000 new followers in just two days.
His big break came when he danced with Katy Perry during her SNL performance of “Swish Swish,” which he first performed at a summer camp in June 2014.
Katy Perry found Russell’s Instagram profile as a recommended page and invited him to be on the show with her. Not only did he dance on stage with Katy Perry, but he also appeared in the music video for the same song.
He made another cameo appearance in the music video for “Rolex” by Ayo & Teo.
The dance move he did on the SNL show became his signature move, which he calls “The Russell,” while others call it “flossing.”
Russell carries a full water bottle, charger, fidget spinners, and earbuds in his backpack to keep it weighted in place while he dances.
He started wearing a backpack for dancing after he saw his friend with a cool backpack and traded a pair of new shoes for it.
Now, Russell leans towards using just one backpack brand for dancing – Sprayground.
Despite his straight face while performing, Russell says he was extremely nervous to be dancing on TV with half the country watching.
Many athletes have done “The Russell” during football games, and ESPN even interviewed Russell about his dance.
In October 2017, Mack Hollins of the Philadelphia Eagles did “The Russell” after he scored his first career touchdown pass.
Russell admits that he can’t dance and does his moves for comedy to make people laugh.
As of 2023, Backpack Kid is 5’10” tall (1.78 meters) and weighs approximately 137 lbs (62kg).
Russell purposely keeps a straight face because he thinks it makes his videos funnier.
Although mostly self-taught, he took a dance class for a month but left because there was too much drama, and the class wasn’t helpful.
Russell’s favorite emoji is the laughing face with tears.
Russell had a small following of only 300 followers and 30 views on his video before it went viral. It wasn’t until someone with over 500,000 followers reposted the video that he started to gain recognition. Russell, also known as Backpack Kid, even has his own website where fans can purchase official merchandise. Although he is known for his dance moves, his favorite cartoon character is SpongeBob SquarePants. As of 2019, he has over 2.2 million followers on Instagram, but his original username was Majestic Cat Lover. Despite his success, Russell tries to keep a normal lifestyle and enjoys playing Xbox and having sleepovers with friends. He hopes to continue as a comedian dancer and is now into hip-hop music, hoping to appear in more music videos in that genre.
FAQ
1. Who is Russell Horning?
Russell Horning, also known as The Backpack Kid, is an American internet personality, rapper, and dancer. He gained popularity in 2016 when he posted videos of himself doing the dance move called “The Floss.”
2. How old is Russell Horning?
Russell Horning was born on December 19, 2001, which makes him 19 years old as of 2021.
3. Where is Russell Horning from?
Russell Horning was born and raised in Lawrenceville, Georgia, which is a suburb of Atlanta.
4. How did Russell Horning become famous?
Russell Horning became famous after he posted videos of himself doing “The Floss” dance on social media. The videos went viral, and he gained millions of followers on Instagram and other social media platforms.
5. What is “The Floss” dance?
“The Floss” is a dance move that involves swinging your arms and hips in opposite directions while simultaneously swinging your legs back and forth. It became popular after Russell Horning posted videos of himself doing the dance on social media.
6. Has Russell Horning appeared on TV?
Yes, Russell Horning has appeared on several TV shows, including “Saturday Night Live,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” and “Good Morning America.”
7. What other talents does Russell Horning have?
Aside from dancing and rapping, Russell Horning is also an aspiring actor. He has appeared in several music videos and short films, and he hopes to have a career in acting in the future.
Zayn Anderson is a prolific writer with a passion for uncovering the world’s intriguing facts. Armed with an insatiable curiosity, he delves into various subjects, from history and science to nature and technology.