A man on TikTok has taken full credit for calling CPS on the parents of viral ‘Boots on the Ground’ sensation Miss Shirley.
4-year-old LaR’iyah Jesireé, aka Ms. Shirley, from Starkville, Mississippi stole our hearts after a video of her rendition of the “Boots on the Ground” line dance was posted to social media.
With her tiny fan and radiating the kind of natural charm that instantly captured the attention of the world her viral appeal has led to appearances at trail rides and even a cameo in the “Boots on the Ground” music video.
Her latest spotlight moment came when she shared a dance with Niecy Nash-Betts on The Jennifer Hudson Show.
Petição para a Beyoncé colocar a Miss Shirley na CC pra ontem!!! https://t.co/vTTbYiklfj pic.twitter.com/iDAJuxQQdB
— COWBOY RONY???????? (@rRonyvieira) May 23, 2025
But as her fame continues to rise, so does public curiosity—ranging from supportive to critical—about the implications of internet stardom for young children, especially around issues like consent and online safety.
One man took things a step further admitting on video that he called CPS on LaR’iyah Jesiree’s mother.
Man admits to calling CPS on Mrs Shirley Mom because he had enough pic.twitter.com/gtgwHXkjTT
— EKid Knuck (@2SD_Knuck) May 26, 2025
On Miss Shirley’s Facebook page, mom labeled the page as ‘only fans’ meaning the page was created for fans of her little girl.
People have misinterpreted the label thinking the 4 yr old is part of the Only Fans platform.
People misinterpreted her mom putting “Only Fans” at the top of her FB page for the little girl. She didn’t mean it in the sexual way. She meant it as “Only Ms. Shirley’s fans” and people called CPS on her for that.
— Claire Kyle (@ThatClaireKyleG) May 26, 2025
Mom has since responded:
Social media has been weighing in on this situation, some agreeing with CPS getting involved, others saying, people are taking things too far:
The mother of the little "Miss Shirley" girl said y'all called CPS on her.
Listen. I have my own issues with parents who make their children the cash cow on their social media accounts, but calling CPS? On what grounds? It sounds unhinged.
— first of all, bitch, … (@thejournalista) May 26, 2025
and
Chileeee CPS then got called on Ms. Shirley mama and yall thought it was okay for that lil girl to be doing all that
— Jasmine (@theerichauntie) May 26, 2025
and
ms. shirley's mama needs to lose custody for a little bit…i am angry af! ????
— fire????☔Baby I Could Never Steal You From Another (@firefire100) May 26, 2025
and
I’m so glad they called CPS on Ms Shirley
— Quint It Tarantino ???????? (@theboudoirmadam) May 27, 2025
and
The fact that someone called CPS on “ Miss Shirley” mama, the little girl who be doing the line dancing is just beyond gross.
— ????Siyah’sMuva???? (@MissBrown_Asian) May 24, 2025
and
This Miss Shirley debacle proves that so many of you are actually crabs in a bucket bc what do you mean you all called CPS on this lady for her daughter doing innocuous line dancing?
A lot of you are latent pedophiles and see sexuality in anything Black little girls do. ???? https://t.co/jWxSpgMed8
— Ausar Sweat Over Water ???? (@RainLadybugTwo) May 25, 2025
TikTok creator Synetra Jones (@synetra99) said on her platform:
“The ones who say she’s doing too much for her age, the ones who say she’s being overworked, no matter what your opinion is, it does not matter because all her mom can see is the bag. The way her mom has this little girl in music videos, doing trail rides and interviews, she is very aware of the exposure she is giving her child. Everything you guys are saying, I’m sure she already thought of. I don’t think that woman cares. I don’t know if she’s living through her child. I don’t know if she really needs the money. I don’t know the reason behind it. She might, you know, believe her little girl just really loves doing it. So even though you guys are very valid in your opinions about how this child is being exposed, it really doesn’t matter.”
Miss Shirley’s mom took to social media to respond to all of the commentary, posting a video of her daughter singing “Where Them Haters At?” and writing:
“Y’all gotta use my baby to get your likes and followers up…If you go on [anyone’s] page that has discussed my child, and I notice on their page that those are the videos with the most views…That’s how the internet works. They [have to] use whatever is trending the most and talk about it…And of course, right now, it’s Smoochez by Ms. Shirley, duhhh. So do whatever floats y’all boat.
Y’all [too] focused on her dancing…Put that focus on your household and make sure it stays perfect—’cause I never knew it was this many perfect people in the world. Don’t let what we do worry y’all lil tink-tinks.
This stuff really be for social media likes, [because] one lady that has made a video about my child was just asking for her child to be a backup dancer. So don’t let this stuff these folks [are] talking about her fool y’all…”
What are your thoughts on this whole thing?