Deaf activist and model Nyle DiMarco has dropped his own special version of Ariana Grande’s latest music video, “7 Rings.”
An outspoken advocate for the deaf community, the dashing DiMarco tweeted Grande back in November when she released her “Thank U Next” video asking her to “add captions for 466 million people with hearing loss (deaf here and we do enjoy your music).”
Could you ask @Vevo to add captions for 466 million people with hearing loss
(Deaf here and we do enjoy your music) https://t.co/e0YSC0lBJg
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) November 30, 2018
When la grand Grande released her “7 Rings” video, the former America’s Next Top Model champ tweeted the good news: “@ArianaGrande dropped WITH CAPTIONS!”
.@ArianaGrande dropped WITH CAPTIONS!
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) January 18, 2019
Even so, DiMarco decided to take things even further and shoot his own version of the video with director Jake Wilson.
DiMarco’s take on “7 Rings” shifts the color scheme from pink to cool blue, and features American Sign Language by the sexually fluid hunk. Along the way, he’s joined by some fine looking dancers who drop some ASL alongside him.
Through it all, the 2016 Dancing with the Stars champ stalks the camera as the thirst trap we’ve all grown to love him to be.
And it appears Ariana approves:
beyond love this so much https://t.co/mO0LSPpal5
— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) January 28, 2019
“Captioning enhances the viewing experience,” DiMarco recently told Out. “It should be a standard part of any filmed media, and not as an afterthought, but as a part of the ultimate golden standard of universal design.”
On the official website for his foundation, DiMarco shares, “Two percent (2%) of the world’s Deaf population has access to education in sign language.”
Additionally, only 25% of parents use sign language to communicate with their Deaf child.
Imagine living in a world where language was not available to you.
Check out Nyle DiMarco’s ASL version of “7 Rings” below.
