Cute or cringe? The internet weighs in on Trudeau's TikTok 'dancing debut'

Cute or cringe? The internet weighs in on Trudeau's TikTok 'dancing debut'

The former PM appears in a new promotional clip from his popstar girlfriend

It's been more than a year since Justin Trudeau stepped down as Canada's prime minister, but he keeps bouncing back into the public consciousness.

This week, he hopped into millions of social media feeds in a promo video for his popstar girlfriend Katy Perry's new single Watch It Burn, setting off online debates about whether he looks cool, cringy or disgraceful.

The 54-year-old is one of several people seen jumping across the screen in the 15-second TikTok video while Perry sings in the foreground. Perry posted the video Thursday and has made several similar clips in different locations, which have been rolling out since the end of June.

Some were delighted to see Trudeau having fun, smiling and casually dressed.

TMZ shared the video on X Friday, saying the video of Trudeau's "dancing debut" was "sweet."

But less Trudeau-friendly accounts took the opportunity to dunk on the polarizing former PM.

Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry take their romance to the red carpet

Trudeau's climate policy architects gather as Carney changes course

"From running a G7 country to B-roll," podcast host Mario Nawfal jabbed. Author and former Concordia University professor Gad Saad, ramping up the drama, said it's "a forever stain on Canada that such an individual held power for 10 years."

Others criticized "MAGA" for "melting down" over the video. American columnist Matthew Yglesias said Trudeau is "travelling the world with his cool pop star girlfriend," adding, "You may not like it but this is peak performance."

Coachella, red carpets and Canada Day

Trudeau has appeared to be living it up the last few months with his new flame, following a starkly different trajectory than former prime ministers who have retreated into consultancy work, law firms and speaking engagements after leaving office.

The two were first spotted together in public in 2025, when they were seen on a dinner date in Montreal.

In April, the couple was spotted at the Coachella music festival in California, where Trudeau was photographed in a backwards ball cap, eating noodles from a box and balancing a red plastic cup on his knee.

In May, Trudeau and Perry made their red-carpet debut at the premiere of the singer's concert film at the Tribeca Festival in New York City, and last month he attended the U.S.-Paraguay match at the FIFA Men's World Cup, where Perry was the pre-game performer.

Justin Trudeau talks about unity, Canadian political divisions

When he stopped by Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa last week, he told CBC's Adrienne Arsenault he was doing "really great."

"It cramped my style a little bit to be prime minister," he said, referring to his long-running tradition of visiting different Canada Day celebrations. "But now I get to actually chill and enjoy Canada Day."

He expressed his appreciation for political staffers and said he hoped they, too, were able to relax for the day.

"Being too absorbed by politics disconnects you from what is sometimes the best about being a regular Canadian: having a beer and a chat on a porch about this great country we live in."

Trudeau and his ex-wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, separated in 2023 after an 18-year relationship. Perry, meanwhile, announced in 2025 that she and longtime fiancé Orlando Bloom were separating after seven years.

Perry's fans have been overwhelmingly positive about Trudeau's appearance on TikTok.

Commenters on the Watch It Burn clip said it was nice to see Trudeau "genuinely happy," and that he was "finally living his teenage dream," in reference to one of Perry's hits.

A timeline of Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry’s relationship

Katy Perry joins Trudeau in Davos to support former PM's speech on value of 'soft power'

"This is a Canadian heritage moment," one fan wrote.

On Reddit, the tone was one of mostly lighthearted ribbing.

"Bro is the happiest he has ever been," one user posted, while another said Trudeau is in his "aging himbo era."

"I love love too much to even hate on this," wrote user anb9216. "They are perfectly cringy together."

Kevin Maimann is a senior writer for CBC News based in Edmonton. He has covered a wide range of topics for publications including VICE, the Toronto Star, Xtra Magazine and the Edmonton Journal. You can reach Kevin by email at kevin.maimann@cbc.ca.