American rapper Soulja Boy has become the first celebrity to express interest in acquiring TikTok, following a US law that threatens to ban the Chinese-owned app.
President Biden recently signed a foreign aid package that includes a provision forcing TikTok to sell its US operations within nine months or face a ban. The move stems from national security concerns surrounding the app’s Chinese ownership.
Soulja Boy took to his social media platform (presumably referring to an unspecified social media handle) to criticize the ban, expressing fear of a slippery slope where the government can target any app or website.
“I can’t believe yall just gon let them ban TikTok like that. And yall think it’s funny. If they do it to this app they can do it to any app or site. Not cool fr yall will see later,” he wrote.
Perhaps more playfully, Soulja Boy followed up with a post jokingly offering to buy TikTok himself.
“How much yall want for TikTok? I’ll buy it. @tiktok_us,” he wrote.
While Soulja Boy’s interest is likely lighthearted, it highlights the uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future in the US. The app’s spokesperson, Alex Haurek, has condemned the law as “unconstitutional” and vowed to challenge it in court.