Australian breakdancer Rachael 'Raygun' Gunn has suffered another setback after her infamous performance at the Paris Olympics, losing her lecturing job at Macquarie University amid staff redundancies.
Gunn, who gained global notoriety as Raygun during the debut of Olympic breakdancing at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, scored zero points for her routine, which featured moves mimicking hopping kangaroos, wriggling snakes, and the sprinkler. Her performance went viral, making her the subject of memes worldwide.
According to the Australian Financial Review (AFR), Gunn was employed as a media and popular culture lecturer at Sydney's Macquarie University but was included in the latest round of redundancies. A Macquarie University spokesperson declined to comment, citing standard practice for legal and privacy reasons.
The AFR reported that lower international student numbers have led universities across Australia to seek cost-saving measures, with Macquarie's arts department being the latest target for redundancies.
According to Gunn's LinkedIn profile, she worked at the university for over a decade, completing a PhD in 2017 on the gender politics of Sydney's breaking culture. Her research focused on the cultural politics of breaking and street dancing, including a study on street dancers performing in public spaces for the City of Sydney council.
Following Gunn's Olympic performance, Senator Gerard Rennick criticized the use of taxpayer funds on unproductive academic courses. In a Facebook post, he questioned how many obscure and pointless courses are subsidized by taxpayers, adding that having a PhD does not guarantee proficiency.
Earlier this year, Gunn leveraged her fame to start a new venture on Cameo, where she charges fans nearly $70 for a personalized video message. The platform allows users to purchase custom messages from celebrities, actors, and athletes worldwide.
