Once the face of internet ridicule, Rebecca Black has re-emerged as a bold voice in pop and queer culture. Fourteen years after her infamous 2011 hit “Friday” exploded online, Black is not only reclaiming her narrative but thriving with her new album Salvation and a highly-anticipated spot on Katy Perry’s Lifetimes Tour.
During a sold-out Thursday night performance in Brooklyn that felt like a spiritual Friday, Black captivated a crowd of devoted fans—many from the LGBTQ+ community—without even performing her viral debut. Instead, the song played as a prelude, signaling how far she’s come. “For a while, I felt kind of chained to having to perform that song,” Black shared the next day.
“But I wanted to make a show that felt just as full, even without it”
Now 27, Black is enjoying critical acclaim for Salvation, which was released in February 2025. With her recent international tour behind her, she’s stepping into an even bigger spotlight as a supporting act on Perry’s tour. The moment is a full-circle one: Perry championed Black early in her career, inviting her to cameo in the “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” music video and even offering mentorship.
“She’s kind of an early investor,” Black said of Perry, adding that their bond rekindled after Perry reached out in admiration of Black’s new single “Sugar Water Cyanide”
Rebecca Black’s rise hasn’t come without adversity. “Friday” made her a household name overnight—for all the wrong reasons. Facing relentless online bullying at just 13, Black became one of the internet’s first viral scapegoats. “The internet was such a dumpster fire at that time,” she recalled.
“We were all kids. We were all figuring it out”
Instead of retreating, Black leaned into her love for music, shaped in part by her isolation and Tumblr-fueled teen years. That deep passion has led her to blend hyperpop influences with personal storytelling, especially in spaces where queer identity and music intersect. Tracks like the title song Salvation subvert religious themes and reclaim them with queer positivity. “Queerness is exactly what God intended the world to have,” she said.
Offstage, Black has embraced DJing as another creative outlet, performing sets that have garnered millions of views—including a now-iconic Boiler Room appearance. “It lets me explore every part of my musical taste,” she said, while also alleviating the pressure of traditional performances.
Closing out her Brooklyn show with Katy Perry’s provocative 2008 hit “Ur So Gay,” Black turned the moment into a celebration of identity. She got Perry’s blessing before adding it to her set.
“Singing it as a queer person is such a unique experience,” she said
As Black heads into the next chapter of her career, she’s no longer haunted by her past. She’s embraced it, reshaped it, and transformed it into something powerful: a narrative of self-discovery, empowerment, and queer joy.
“This feels like the most cohesive storytelling I’ve ever done,” Black said.
“I know what I want to get across. I feel like I’m in the room I’m meant to be in”
