It Was the Kind of Trend That Felt Right

Out here in Saskatchewan, we’re used to things moving a little slower. That’s not a bad thing—it gives us room to breathe. To really take in the little stuff. Like a golden field before harvest. The way the sky stretches forever. Or the small spark you feel when someone creates something just to make people smile.

That’s how Kelley Heyer’s Apple dance hit us.

It wasn’t perfect or polished. It didn’t need to be. Just a few moves, a lot of charm, and this playful vibe that made you want to try it—even if you hadn’t danced in years. It was catchy without being showy. Confident without being loud. It felt like something a cousin would show you in the garage while waiting for supper to be ready.

You saw it on your feed, and for a minute, it just made the day a little lighter.

But Then a Game Made It a Product

Here’s the thing. Kelley didn’t just make the dance. She owned it. She copyrighted it back in August 2024 and even started talking to Roblox about using it properly in their game, Dress to Impress.

But before anything was finalized—before any dotted lines were signed—they just went ahead and used it anyway.

They made it an emote. Priced it at $1.25. Released it into the game. Sold it.

Players bought it. Lots of them.

Kelley? She got nothing. Not a credit. Not a check. Not even a heads-up.

Eventually, she filed a lawsuit. Because if no one else was going to stand up for her, she figured she better do it herself.

Here’s what it looked like in numbers:

• 60,000+ purchases of the emote
• Roughly $123,000 made by Roblox
• $0 to Kelley
• 1 copyright already filed
• 1 lawsuit that could set a much-needed precedent

In Saskatchewan, That Just Doesn’t Sit Right

We might be a quiet bunch most of the time. But we’ve got a strong sense of fairness. If you borrow something, you return it. If you use someone’s idea, you give them credit. If you profit from their work—you better believe you include them in the win.

It’s not about being flashy. It’s about respect. And what Kelley got? That wasn’t respect.

She created something full of light, and a billion-dollar company turned it into a button without her say.

What Did Roblox Say?

Pretty much nothing. They dropped a generic statement about respecting intellectual property and said they were confident in their legal position. You know—the kind of thing you say when you’re hoping people move on before they start asking questions.

But people are asking. And they should be.

Because what happened to Kelley? It’s not just about her.

It’s About Every Creator Who’s Ever Shared Something Real

We all know someone in Saskatchewan who’s creative in their own way. The teenager choreographing dances in their bedroom in Moose Jaw. The mom with a gift for writing poems no one sees but should. The artist painting prairie skies on reclaimed wood in Prince Albert.

Kelley’s story hits close to home because we get what it means to make something with your heart and hope people treat it with care.

When they don’t? That’s when you stand up.

We’re Rooting for Her

Kelley Heyer’s not asking for the moon. She just wants to be recognized for what she created. To be part of the conversation. To not be left behind while someone else profits from her work.

That’s not a lawsuit. That’s just doing what’s right.

And around here, that still means something.