It was a mostly harmless stunt, at least until the person behind it started accusing people of racism. That person is a would-be pop star who calls herself Baby Storme. Recently she showed up at an LA-area Target store with about 20 back up dancers and a camera crew and tried to film a music video. Store security responded by politely asking them to leave and then warning they would have to call police if the dancers didn’t go on their own.

Baby Storme responded by posting a video on YouTube and X. The caption on X read, “This racist target employee called the police on us for dancing in Target… So we danced anyway.” There’s a longer description on YouTube which reads:

I was so excited for us to film a quick flash mob at Target. But before we even walked through the door, this employee called the police on us for being on the property. At first he said we couldn’t film. But when we stopped filming, he still continued to kick us out, saying that we were a “safety violation,” and that the police were on their way. So, we made the most of what we could. I couldn’t even remember the dance I came up with. This moment for me was one that I really can not describe. I tried to keep it together, but all I could focus on was all the beautiful brown faces I was able to bring together. That were able to stand in solidarity today. This is everything I stand for.

Here’s the video:

She was clearly hoping for a lot of “Slayyy queen!” responses but that’s not what she got for the most part as the NY Post pointed out:

“Girl I like your music but as someone who also works in retail: if you’re showing up during the final minutes of closing time, we have to quickly get people out the store so we can get everything in order within those final minutes,” wrote a commenter on YouTube.

“Also, idk (I don’t know) much about flash mobs but I did take a minor course in audio&film and you do need permission forms to be able to film because you’re on their property,” the commenter added.

The Daily Beast has more, specifically in regard to her claims of racism:

“What racism? You are on private property which means Target is well within their rights to kick your entitled behinds to the curb,” a Twitter user commented under the video. “Stop using cries of racism to excuse this nonsense.”

“You’re doing a disservice to those with genuine grievances against racism,” another Twitter user wrote…

“I’m black where was this racist?” a user on YouTube wrote. “You’re disturbing an entire store without permission and when security does their job ( where they were extremely courteous ) they get labeled as racists? I’m extremely disappointed.. please do better. This was completely disrespectful to someone’s business.”

“I love how this is going viral NOT because of racism, but because of your incredible sense of entitlement,” another YouTuber commented.

Entitlement is right. The space is owned by Target. It’s not a backdrop for your music video unless the store grants you permission to film there. Even the Root was skeptical there was any racism involved here:

This is one of those moments where the “racism” card just doesn’t stick. Please stretch before you reach, as one user put it.

The Root also highlighted the funniest response to this.

💅🏾I used to be a dance choreographer back in the 2010s and now I’m the manager at the Best Buy next door to this Target. This past Friday they came in my store & pulled the same thing. With my background in dance, I sat there and gave them a chance. I wanted to see if the girlies… pic.twitter.com/ftln67A3ax

— J. Mulholland (@MulhollandL0ver) August 14, 2023

It continues: “I wanted to see if the girlies would EAT and predictably, they FLOPPED. Uncoordinated, out a sync, off beat, & unserious. I called the cops on them for the performance alone. Hell out my damn store.”

Maybe that’s a joke but I think the author is on to something. If a group of professional dancers showed up at Target doing the Thriller moves that clearly inspired this dance in perfect sync, everyone would have known right away they were pros rather than wannabe kids filming a TikTok. I think that would have bought them a little time. Who wants to spoil a perfect rendition of Thriller? But that’s not what happened here. By her own admission Storme couldn’t even remember her own dance. Instead of whining about imaginary racism, she needs to up her choreography game next time and it also wouldn’t hurt to ask permission.