A sign language edition of Ariana Grande’s 7 Rings just dropped
He sees it, he likes it, he wants it, he GETS IT. America's Next Top Model icon Nyle DiMarco, who is also an avid activist for the ASL community, has created his own version of Ariana Grande's 7 Rings music video in American Sign Language.
AND IT'S AMAZING. With DiMarco's assistance, the video was directed by Jake Wilson, and features a range of models absolutely slayin' the game to Ariana's number one hit song, alongside closed captions.
DiMarco was the second male winner and first winner who is hard of hearing to be crowned America's Next Top Model. He's been a public advocate for closed-captioning videos for the deaf community ever since.
He asked Grande herself via Twitter to request that her thank u, next video be available with closed captioning for the “466 million people with hearing loss” who want to view the art too.
Could you ask @Vevo to add captions for 466 million people with hearing loss
(Deaf here and we do enjoy your music) https://t.co/e0YSC0lBJg
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) November 30, 2018
"Deaf here and we do enjoy your music," Nyle added. He has been campaigning for representation for years, and has achieved some major milestones while he's at it.
He also reached out to Vevo, writing, "You earn more than $650 million per year and can't even add captions to Ariana Grande's thank u, next video."
"There ARE closed caption service that will cost you ONLY six dollars (or less) to instantly appeal to a wider audience," he added.
"There are 466 million people with hearing loss, thank u, next."
.@Vevo,
You earn more than 650 mill per year and can't even add captions to @ArianaGrande's #ThankUNextVideo
There ARE closed caption services that will cost you ONLY $6 (or less) to INSTANTLY appeal to a wider audience
There are 466mill people with hearing loss
thank u, next
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) November 30, 2018
YAS HENNY. He's right, of course. The deaf community face struggles with music videos daily, with only a handful of major artists providing closed-captions on their video work.
Grande took notice of the criticism, and made sure that when her 7 Rings music video debuted this month, there were lyrics available to read onscreen
DiMarco has now released an ASL version of whole iconic music video, and he's looking INCREDIBLE in a diamanté fishnet top;
Him and his male model pals are killin' it in the video, recreating Ariana's girl power song with American Sign Language to boot. Fair play lads, fair play.
Representation matters, and we all have to play a role in encouraging the fight against albeism.
Nyle continues to break down the barriers for his community, we're so glad Ari took notice.