Deaf model and activist Nyle DiMarco released his own version of Ariana Grande’s newest song and video, 7 Rings — in American Sign Language.
DiMarco, who is a winner of America’s Next Top Model and identifies as sexually fluid, has never been quiet about the need for better understanding of and representation for the deaf community.
This video is his latest way of giving back and providing much-needed visibility.
Grande first premiered the song earlier in the month, where it skyrocketed to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
7 Rings is a treat yo self anthem in the forms of wealth and luxury. As Grande herself wrote, the song is ‘a flex. friendship anthem. how the homies WANT u to feel’.
DiMarco’s version is similar in tone, style, and aesthetic to Grande’s. It’s truly a recreation and tribute with the added element of ASL.
In his video, he’s joined by a group of backup dancers and actors, who also occasionally perform in ASL with him.
According to Gallaudet University, a school for deaf and hard-of-hearing students located in Washington DC, 2-4 people per every 1,000 people in the US are ‘functionally deaf’. More than half of this number includes people who become deaf in the US later in life.
When ‘severe hearing impairment’ is included, the statistic jumps to 9-22 people per every 1,000 people.
Grande hasn’t commented on the video yet but if she does, we hope she loves it.
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