Watch Miami Beach Police Nobly Attempt the #RunningManChallenge

There are two ways to know when a meme is officially dead: 1) Ellen DeGeneres does it on her show to a crowd full of confused moms, and 2) when the government gets involved. (Remember when Michelle Obama collectively embarrassed a nation with her take on Lil Jon's "Turn Down...

By Ryan Pfeffer

May 13, 2016

Audio By Carbonatix

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UPDATE: Game over. The city of Miami Police Department just issued a response that was actually pretty amazing. Watch it at the bottom of the post.

There are two ways to know when a meme is officially dead: 1) Ellen DeGeneres does it on her show to a crowd full of confused moms, and 2) when the government gets involved.

(Remember when Michelle Obama collectively embarrassed a nation with her take on Lil Jon's "Turn Down for What?")

Well, we can officially mark the Running Man Challenge down as deceased because now both Ellen and the Miami Beach Police Department have gotten involved, which is hopefully the last time we'll have to mention Ellen DeGeneres and the Miami Beach Police Department in the same sentence, because I really don't ever want to have to write a post with the headline: "Ellen DeGeneres Tasered by Miami Beach Police After Night at LIV Goes Terribly Wrong."

The Running Man Challenge has been the Internet's latest viral sensation (and latest thing white people have kinda ruined). Started by University of Maryland basketball players Jaylen Brantley and Jared Nickens, the rules for the Running Man Challenge are simple: do a variation on the running man dance while the immortal "My Boo" by Ghost Town DJ's plays in the background.

It's fun and sweet and the meme has had the unintended consequence of boosting "My Boo" back onto the charts, where it recently landed on Billboard's Hot 100. And that's cool because "My Boo" is a masterpiece that deserves to never go out of style.

But that also means we now have to enjoy it while watching crime-fighting bloodhound and possible flasher (who else wears a trench coat with nothing underneath?) Scruff McGruff wiggle on the beach with a dozen of his closest pals.

Is the sacrifice worth it? We'll let you decide.

Ryan Pfeffer is a contributor and former Miami New Times music editor. After earning a BS from Florida State University, Ryan joined the New Times staff in November 2013 as a web editor.

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