Awkward moment ABC senior journalists attempt catchy ‘boots and a slick back bun’ TikTok trend

Three ABC journalists captured the awkward moment they made a TikTok fashion trend go viral, sweeping social media.

Reporter Amal Wehbe was a guest on a panel with fellow reporters Dan Bourchier and Johanna Nicholson, where she taught them how to create the ‘boots and slicked-back bun’ trend.

This healthy fad involves a group of people wearing two flashy pieces of clothing and dancing.

In the ABC studio, Johanna pointed out her “earrings and a burgundy top” combo, while Dan changed his choice at the last minute.

“I told you something else before. I’m going: Koala pin and a dark blue suit,” he said.

Meanwhile, Amal chanted, “Pink shirt and red nails.”

The group of presenters then attempted to sing the catchy tune, but it didn’t quite fit with the original viral clip.

“We need to practice. But that’s the general gist of it,” Johanna said.

“I think we were amazing! I think we should all start our TikTok careers right away,” Amal joked.

Fans didn’t mind the blunder and pointed out that the video was actually good.

“Absolutely spot on,” one user wrote.

“I didn’t know how it would end and I think they blew it!!!,” Amal later added in the comments.

The light-hearted video emerged months after the ABC removed a TikTok article that portrayed the consumer boycott of Israel in a positive light.

The social media story Amal filed about the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) protest movement, which targets goods and products that allegedly benefit Israel, was suddenly removed from the ABC TikTok account in December.

In the story, a restaurant owner claims that the only way to hurt Israel is to “fight money with money.”

Amal, who previously identified herself as Palestinian on her TikTok page and previously worked for the children’s program Behind the News, promised to give her viewers an answer to the question of why people are boycotting Coca-Cola.

She interviewed the owner of Cedar Wrap, a Lebanese restaurant in Bankstown, in Sydney’s west. He was identified only as ‘Oz’ and brandished a microphone with a large ABC logo on it during his performances.

Oz said he had been boycotting Israeli and American products for two months, with Coca-Cola and other soft drinks from the American soft drink giant being the most notable example.

Amal explained: “The BDS site says that Coca-Cola is operating a factory in Adera, which is illegal under international law.”

The report, which lasted just over a minute, did not criticize the BDS movement, but instead focused on whether the movement was successful in punishing corporations and changing their attitudes toward Israel.

“There has been a lot more talk about BDS since October 7 and organizers say it is making a difference,” Amal said.

The report then goes back to Oz. “A lot of people say boycotts don’t work. Boycotts are actually extremely important,” he said.

“The only way to fight money is with money.”

Amal gives her closing summary.

“So it’s hard to say how much of a financial impact this movement has on a brand, but organizers say the change in customer sentiment is powerful in itself,” she said.

The chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, Dr Dvir Abramovich, said the report was “not credible”.

“While I welcome the removal of the video, I call on the board and management to investigate this alarming matter,” he said.

“This report has crossed so many boundaries that I have stopped counting.”

He claimed TikTok was especially inflammatory “at a time of rising anti-Semitism.”

“When Jewish students in schools and universities are attacked for who they are and for supporting Israel, this narrative will only fuel hostility,” Dr. Abramovich said.

Cedar Wrap was contacted but declined to comment further.

When first published, the ABC was asked for comment.