Ew!
"Ew!" is a novelty song by American comedian and television host Jimmy Fallon, featuring rapper will.i.am. Released on October 8, 2014, through Interscope Records, it originated from Fallon's recurring "Ew!" sketch on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he and a guest portray judgmental teenage girls expressing disgust at everyday things.[1][2] The track is a comedy pop song with lyrics mimicking adolescent slang and revulsion, such as "Look at her butt (ew)" and "She looks like a slut (ew)." The official music video, directed by Elliot Perlman and released on October 6, 2014, features Fallon and will.i.am in schoolgirl attire, amplifying the sketch's humorous tone.[3][4] Upon release, "Ew!" debuted at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, selling 35,000 copies in its first week, and reached number 14 on the Canadian Hot 100. Proceeds from the single benefited the SeriousFun Children's Network. The song received mixed critical reviews but gained viral popularity online and through covers, including one by child rapper Baby Kaely.[5][6][7]Background and Production
Origins in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
The "Ew!" sketch is a recurring comedy segment on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in which host Jimmy Fallon dresses as a tween girl named Sara—spelled S-A-R-A, with no "H" because "H's are ew!"—who hosts a mock basement talk show with her girlfriends, reacting with exaggerated disgust ("Ew!") to adult topics such as relationships, fashion faux pas, and family dynamics, often centering on her hapless stepdad Gary, portrayed by head writer A.D. Miles in unflattering attire like cargo shorts and sneakers.[8][9] The sketch debuted on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on February 20, 2014, in an episode guest-hosted by Will Ferrell alongside First Lady Michelle Obama, where Sara and her friend Stacy (played by Ferrell) interviewed Obama about promoting healthy eating and physical activity through the "Let's Move!" campaign, gradually warming to the ideas despite their initial revulsion.[10][11] Initially featuring improvised dialogue and physical comedy, the segment evolved into more elaborate productions with guest celebrities playing Sara's friends, incorporating dance routines and catchphrases that amplified its tween-girl parody, and by October 6, 2014, it transitioned into a formalized musical performance during will.i.am's appearance, with Fallon as Sara and will.i.am as her counterpart mir.i.am rapping about "ew"-inducing pet peeves like basic girls and haters.[8][12] The October 6 live premiere of the musical "Ew!" sparked immediate online buzz, with clips circulating widely on social media platforms and news outlets praising its viral humor, amassing millions of views within days and setting the stage for its commercial release.[13]Recording and Songwriting
Following the popularity of the "Ew!" sketch on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, rapper and producer will.i.am (born William Adams) approached Fallon about transforming it into a full musical track after expressing admiration for the concept during a backstage discussion. This collaboration marked the first time the sketch was adapted into an original song, with will.i.am handling production duties and contributing to the creative direction. The pair developed the track to capture the comedic essence of judgmental teenage girls, incorporating rap verses and exaggerated vocal effects to parody contemporary pop and hip-hop styles. Songwriting credits for "Ew!" are attributed to Jimmy Fallon and will.i.am, who co-wrote the lyrics focusing on humorous disgust over everyday teen annoyances like selfies and fashion trends. Additional contributors included lyricists such as Gerard Bradford, but Fallon and will.i.am are listed as the primary creators. The recording took place in New York City, aligning with the show's production at Rockefeller Center, where the duo laid down vocals over will.i.am's custom beat to maintain the sketch's playful energy. The final track runs for 2:15, blending comedic hip-hop elements with pop parody through auto-tuned rapping and sound effects that mimic adolescent speech patterns. Ultimately, Fallon and will.i.am decided to release "Ew!" as a charity single, with all proceeds directed to the SeriousFun Children's Network, which supports camps for children with serious illnesses, and will.i.am's i.am.angel Foundation, focused on education and technology access for underserved youth.Release
Single Release
"Ew!" was released as a digital single on October 7, 2014, through Interscope Records. The track became available for digital download immediately following its television premiere on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on October 7, 2014.[14] The song debuted on radio the same day, October 7, 2014, with its first airplay on the Elvis Duran and the Morning Show. This radio rollout complemented the exclusive premiere on the late-night program, marking the official launch across broadcast and digital channels.[14] As a digital download, "Ew!" was priced at $1.29 on platforms such as iTunes, with streaming access provided on services including Spotify and Apple Music from the release date.[15][16][17] Proceeds from the single's sales supported the SeriousFun Children's Network and the i.am.angel Foundation, aligning with the charitable intent behind its production.[15]Promotion and Music Video
The "Ew!" single was promoted through tie-ins with The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where the recurring sketch served as a platform for live performances featuring guest celebrities portraying judgmental teenage girls alongside Fallon's character Sara.[8] These segments often included comedic raps and dance routines that teased the song's themes of exaggerated teen disgust, building anticipation ahead of the full release.[18] The show's social media channels amplified this by sharing clips and encouraging fan participation, such as lip-sync videos to the track, which Fallon highlighted during broadcasts to foster viral engagement.[19] The official music video for "Ew!" was released on October 7, 2014, and premiered during an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on October 7, 2014.[3] In the video, Fallon and will.i.am don exaggerated tween girl costumes, including colorful wigs, heavy makeup, and casual teen attire like graphic tees and accessories, to embody their alter-egos Sara and mir.i.am.[13] The content parodies teen pop music videos through over-the-top sequences of the duo gossiping and dancing in a bedroom setting, critiquing everything from fashion choices to social interactions with snarky lyrics like "Ew! What is that? Is that her hair or a helmet?"[20] It includes choreographed dance breaks and direct references to the sketch's recurring "Gary" character, Fallon's annoying stepdad figure who awkwardly interrupts the girls, only to be dismissed with disdain.[12] The video had its online premiere via the official Tonight Show YouTube channel and was featured prominently on Billboard's website, quickly accumulating millions of views and shares across social platforms due to its humorous take on youth culture.[3][20] This immediate virality was boosted by cross-promotions on iHeartRadio and fan recreations, aligning with Fallon's on-air pleas for viewers to stream and purchase the song to achieve chart success.[21] The "Ew!" sketch has seen ongoing revivals on The Tonight Show, maintaining its promotional momentum years later; a notable 2024 installment aired on August 22, featuring guests Zoë Kravitz as Lucy Garrett and Sabrina Carpenter as Hayley Robinson, who joined Fallon in pink matching outfits for a back-to-school themed segment with dance elements and the return of stepdad Gary.[22][23]Commercial Performance
Sales and Streaming
In its debut week, "Ew!" garnered 6 million streams and 35,000 digital downloads in the United States, driven in part by initial radio airplay and the viral music video.[6][5] By 2021, the track had accumulated modest total sales of approximately 35,000 units in the US, with no further significant download figures reported, and streaming totals reaching around 10 million across major platforms like Spotify. As of October 2025, Spotify streams have surpassed 13 million.[24] No major certifications, such as RIAA Gold or Platinum, were awarded to the single.[5] Proceeds from sales and streams were directed to the SeriousFun Children's Network and will.i.am's i.am.angel Foundation, supporting programs for children with serious illnesses, though exact funds raised from the song remain undisclosed.[5] In recent years, the song experienced minor streaming revivals through user-generated sped-up versions uploaded to platforms like SoundCloud in 2024, contributing to ongoing but limited digital engagement without triggering new sales peaks.[25] The official music video on YouTube has approximately 60 million views as of November 2025, underscoring its enduring online presence as a novelty track.[3]Charts
"Ew!" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 26 on the chart dated October 25, 2014, marking Jimmy Fallon's first entry on the ranking as a lead artist, and spent a total of two weeks on the chart.[26] The track's entry was supported by first-week digital sales of 35,000 units.[5] It also reached number 1 on the Comedy Digital Song Sales chart, where it debuted atop the ranking.[5] Additionally, "Ew!" peaked at number 5 on the Hot Rap Songs chart and charted for two weeks.[27] Internationally, the song entered the Canadian Hot 100 at its peak position of number 14 and remained on the chart for four weeks.[7] The track's rapid social media traction propelled it to number 1 on the Billboard + Twitter Trending 140 real-time chart on October 8, 2014, driven by over 25,000 Twitter mentions in its first two days of release.[14]| Chart (2014) | Peak Position | Weeks on Chart |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 26 | 2 |
| US Comedy Digital Song Sales | 1 | 7 |
| US Hot Rap Songs | 5 | 2 |
| Canada Canadian Hot 100 | 14 | 4 |
| Billboard + Twitter Trending 140 | 1 | N/A |