A 23-year-old influencer is recovering from emergency spinal surgery after attempting a viral TikTok challenge inspired by Nicki Minaj — a trend doctors are now calling one of the most dangerous stunts to ever emerge from the platform. The incident, which occurred during a livestream on Saturday, has sparked an international conversation about social media pressure, celebrity-fueled trends, and the devastating cost of chasing viral fame.
The influencer, known online as @JaydaSlayz, was attempting the now-infamous “Pink Friday Flip” — a gravity-defying dance move pulled from choreography in Minaj’s recent “FTCU” music video, where the rapper executes a twisting aerial spin while wearing 6-inch heels. The move, originally performed by trained professionals for the stage production, became a TikTok sensation after users began daring one another to replicate it at home.
Jayda, who has over 2.1 million followers, was filming the challenge in her apartment in Houston when the attempt went horribly wrong. Mid-spin, she lost her balance, flipped backward, and landed head-first on the edge of a glass table. Her neck and lower back bore the full impact.
Jayda’s scream was the most horrifying thing I’ve heard on live. This challenge needs to be banned. #StopThePinkFlip— Kylah 💋 (@slayybykylah) August 7, 2025
The livestream immediately cut out, but not before thousands witnessed the fall in real time. Within minutes, shocked viewers began tagging emergency services in the comments. A neighbor who saw the flashing lights outside Jayda’s apartment building told KHOU11 reporters, “I heard her scream and then glass shattering. It was sickening.”
She was rushed to Houston Methodist Hospital where surgeons confirmed multiple spinal fractures and a fractured pelvis. As of Wednesday morning, she remains in a spinal stabilization brace and is unable to walk. A GoFundMe launched by her sister, titled “Help Jayda Walk Again After Viral Challenge”, has already raised over $86,000 in less than 48 hours.
Doctors treating Jayda issued a strong warning in a statement via the Harris Health System, urging social media platforms to flag physically dangerous trends and remove them before they escalate. “This is not a sprain or a bruise. This is life-changing spinal trauma caused by a stunt that should have never left a music video,” said Dr. Celia Torres, one of the attending trauma surgeons.
Jayda Slayz just broke her spine trying to flip like Nicki. When do we stop chasing views and start choosing life? #JaydaSlayz— justiceforall (@realtalkash) August 7, 2025
Nicki Minaj herself has not commented directly on the incident, but her team released a short statement through Billboard, saying: “While we love the passion of the Barbz, safety must always come first. Please do not attempt choreo meant for trained professionals.”
Despite the cautionary note, the “Pink Friday Flip” continues to trend on TikTok under the hashtag #PinkFridayFlip, which has already surpassed 190 million views. Many of the videos now feature stitched clips of Jayda’s accident as a warning, but others have irresponsibly turned the moment into a meme — a move that’s being condemned by family members and public figures alike.
Entertainment commentator Candace Marquez took to Instagram to voice her disgust: “A Black woman nearly died for your entertainment, and y’all turned her pain into a soundbite.”
The broader issue, critics argue, is the speed at which trends like these spread without regulation. In a deep-dive by VICE, researchers outlined how performance-based clout challenges have surged by over 240% since 2021, with most of them targeting Gen Z women and queer creators looking to stand out in oversaturated algorithms.
Jayda nearly lost her life. For what? Likes? A few brand deals? We are watching social media chew people up. #TikTokReckoning— Dr. Olivia Bennet (@livbennetPhD) August 7, 2025
Jayda’s team has since removed all Pink Friday Flip-related content from her page and issued a statement thanking fans for their support. “Jayda’s fighting. She’s scared. But she’s grateful to be alive. She wants others to think twice before trying these things,” the post reads.
Meanwhile, TikTok has yet to fully ban the challenge. In a statement shared with NBC News, the platform said it was “evaluating the hashtag and working to remove videos that violate our Community Guidelines.” Critics argue that moderation efforts are too slow and often come only after someone is hurt — or worse.
This isn’t the first time a Nicki Minaj-inspired trend has sparked danger. In 2022, the “Anaconda Balance” challenge led to a rash of ER visits after teens attempted handstands while twerking. In 2024, a fire stunt tied to her “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” video sent two influencers to the ICU after attempting to replicate a pyro effect using aerosol cans.
Jayda’s case, however, may be the first to involve permanent spinal injury. And for many watching, it marks a horrifying escalation in the race for virality. As one TikTok creator said in a stitched video viewed over 12 million times, “We have officially hit the point where clout is more valuable than your spine.”
As Jayda begins what will likely be a year-long recovery, her story is being held up as a cautionary tale across platforms. One tweet, now pinned on her sister’s profile, sums it up in heartbreaking simplicity: “She did it for the views. Now she might never dance again.”
