Avril Makes Her TikTok Debut with 'Sk8er Boi' Tony Hawk

Entertainment Weekly
Mon, June 21, 2021

Pop-punk princess Avril Lavigne has made her debut on TikTok.

The Canadian music star posted her very first video on the social media platform Monday, sporting a very retro look - a black T-shirt and a striped tie, kind of like this - as she lip-syncs along to her 2002 classic "Sk8er Boi" while sitting on top of a ramp.

When the song gets to the chorus, "He was a skater boy/She said, 'See ya later, boy,'" the camera zooms in on the tie, before zooming out and revealing the ultimate sk8er boi, Tony Hawk.

The pro skater performs a a few tricks on the video on one of his own boards, which is perfectly pink on the underside.

Lavigne's TikTok debut arrived on the perfect day: Monday is Go Skateboarding Day, and she put in a plug on her Instagram to watch Hawk on his ramp via The Skate Park Project's (formerly The Tony Hawk Foundation) TikTok page.

Last month, the rocker shared a little video of her own boarding sesh. It ended in a little tumble, but she bravely shared the footage with fans on Instagram because, even in her 30s, she's still punk rock.

"Hope this makes you laugh as hard as it's made my friends and I laugh all week," she wrote. "That's what I get for sk8ing in my slippers and dress."

By Lianne Kolirin, CNN 1 day ago
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Tony Hawk, Avril Lavigne are posing for a picture: Sk8er Boi Tony Hawk appears in Avril Lavigne's first TikTok, featuring her 2002 hit © From Avril Lavigne/Instagram Sk8er Boi Tony Hawk appears in Avril Lavigne's first TikTok, featuring her 2002 hit

In a video posted to her social media account Monday, the Canadian songstress is lip-syncing her way through the 2002 hit.

Set against a sunny beach backdrop, Lavigne is dressed in black shorts and a T-shirt, complete with a red and blue striped tie.

As the song gets to the chorus, "He was a skater boy/She said, 'See ya later, boy,'" the camera shifts from Lavigne to professional skateboarder Tony Hawk -- now wearing the tie -- as he performs stunts on a beachfront ramp.

Though now in his fifties, Hawk is the ultimate skater boy, having taken up the sport when he was 9 years old after his brother gave him his first board -- and turning professional just five years later.

Hawk dominated skateboarding competitions in the 1980s and 90s. He was named top vert -- short for vertical -- skater every year from 1984 to 1996. He won 73 titles and has invented dozens of skateboarding moves.

Lavigne's TikTok video was timed to coincide with Go Skateboarding Day, an annual celebration of the sport which first began in California in 2004.

Hawk also released a short clip to his Instagram page of Lavigne having a go at skating. The accompanying caption read: "Breaking news: Sk8er Boi singer learns skating move from old Sk8ter Man."

In the video, the talented singer tentatively leaps off the ramp only to come off the board and fall on her hands and knees. But that does not deter her from getting straight back on and having another, moderately more successful, attempt.

Lavigne commented on the post: "Thanks for teaching me to drop in Sk8er Man... legend."

This was not the musician's first public outing on a board.

Last month, she posted a video on Instagram of herself falling off a skateboard -- showing the sport is not quite as easy as Hawk makes it look.

Avril Lavigne rewears her iconic 'Sk8er Boi' aesthetic for TikTok debut
Tue., June 22, 2021, 6:52 a.m.·2 min read

To announce her TikTok debut, Avril Lavinge just served a seriously epic throwback and it's some solid Tuesday pick me up content. Rather than doing a standard 'hey, I'm on TikTok' type of message, Avril went out with a 2021 rendition of her hit bop 'Sk8er Boi' joining forces with none other than Tony Hawk (AKA the ultimate skater boy).

In the clip, captioned "He was a… @tonyhawk #GoSkateboarding #sk8rboi", Avril wears her signature noughties look: a tank top with baggy, 3/4 trousers, matching trainers and, of course, the iconic loose tie draped around her neck. The best part? Midway through the vid, it cuts to Tony on the halfpipe wearing the EXACT SAME TIE. And, like that, I'm instantly transported to 2002 - what a time to be alive.

While there's only one post on Avril's TikTok account at the moment, this is an incredibly strong start.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQZWi6cBaRx

Photo credit: Getty Images

Noughties fashion trends are making a very real comeback this season (crop tops, wide-leg jeans, baguette bags - you name it) so, who knows, maybe the 'tie as a necklace' look could also return? I mean, stranger things have happened.

I just get pissed off with Avril constantly refering to her mini ramp as a mini pipe. As a skateboarder I know a mini ramp is a small half pipe and a vert ramp is called a half pipe. Shortened to mini or vert with midi in-between and it is also called a midi ramp not a midi pipe.