Fortnite players may have seen the last of one of the game’s most popular emotes. The Bye Bye Bye emote, which features the iconic NSYNC choreography made famous again in Deadpool & Wolverine, has been absent from the item shop for over 500 days, and a recent lawsuit could mean it never returns.
The emote was first added to Fortnite in September 2024 alongside the return of the Deadpool skin. It quickly became a favorite thanks to its energetic dance routine and the ability for multiple players to join in and sync their moves. When performed, the emote plays the original NSYNC song, creating a fun, communal moment in matches.
However, the future of the emote is now in doubt due to a legal dispute. Choreographer Darrin Henson, who created the original Bye Bye Bye dance routine for NSYNC, filed a lawsuit against Sony. The complaint alleges that Sony licensed the choreography for use in Deadpool & Wolverine and subsequently to Epic Games without Henson’s full consent as the sole owner of the routine. Henson is seeking a court declaration confirming his ownership and recovery of earnings from the licensing.
The lawsuit claims that Sony’s actions have “whitewashed” the dance’s legacy, with many modern fans now associating the routine more with Deadpool than with the original NSYNC performance. Because of the ongoing legal battle and potential financial consequences, the Bye Bye Bye emote has been pulled from rotation and may never return to the Fortnite item shop.
Epic Games has not issued an official statement regarding the impact of the lawsuit on the emote. This silence has left many players speculating about whether the emote will eventually reappear or if it has been quietly retired.
Bye Bye Bye would not be the first emote to disappear from Fortnite. In September 2025, Epic removed the Peaceful Hips emote from the Peacemaker collaboration after fans pointed out that parts of the dance resembled a swastika. The company has also regularly vaulted weapons and items for balancing reasons or to address exploits.
What makes the potential loss of Bye Bye Bye different is its massive popularity. The emote’s ability to let groups of players dance together created memorable moments in matches and helped bridge the gap between the Marvel crossover and the original NSYNC song. Many fans who grew up with the late 90s/early 2000s boy band hit have particularly enjoyed seeing the choreography return in a modern context.
This situation highlights the complex legal landscape surrounding dance moves and choreography in video games. While Fortnite has become famous for its extensive crossover content, licensing intellectual property especially performance-based elements like dances can lead to unexpected complications.
The lawsuit also raises questions about how future collaborations will handle choreography rights. As Fortnite continues to feature music, dances, and pop culture references, Epic and its partners will likely need to navigate these issues more carefully to avoid similar legal challenges.
For now, players who want to use the Bye Bye Bye emote are out of luck. The emote has not appeared in the item shop since its initial release, and the ongoing legal dispute makes a return uncertain at best. Fans of both NSYNC and Deadpool have expressed disappointment, with many hoping for a resolution that allows the emote to return in some form.
In the meantime, Fortnite continues to rotate hundreds of other emotes, skins, and cosmetics through the item shop. While the loss of one popular dance is unfortunate, the game’s vast library ensures players still have plenty of options for self-expression during matches.
The Bye Bye Bye emote’s extended absence and potential permanent removal serve as a reminder that even the most fun and lighthearted elements in Fortnite can be affected by real-world legal matters. As the lawsuit between Henson and Sony progresses, the Fortnite community will be watching closely to see if the beloved dance routine can make a comeback or if it will remain a nostalgic memory from 2024.