Controversies, cancellations: Biggest Qld influencer scandals of the past year
Influencers are nothing without a bit of controversy, and these Qld social media stars found themselves in hot water when their followers did not agree with everything they posted. See the biggest influencers who were #cancelled in 2023.
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Social media has made influencers part of our everyday lives, whether we like it or not.
And nowadays, it seems that every second day there’s another controversy or cancellation boiling up in the social media sphere.
‘Cancel culture’ is constantly a topic of discussion, a concept where people are boycotted and shunned for behaviour others deem unacceptable.
Most recently, American YouTuber Colleen Ballinger, known for her comedic character Miranda Sings, was “cancelled” after she made a viral apology video in response to allegations of grooming by performing an original song that became known as ‘Toxic Gossip Train’.
And this isn’t the first instance of online cancellation we’ve seen, with celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres and Kanye West being deemed “cancelled” in recent years.
Companies and brands aren’t safe from “cancelling” either, with fashion label Balenciaga involved in heavy online backlash in 2023 after an advertising campaign depicted young children with bondage-style clothing.
Cancellations and instances of cancel culture exist on different planes of severity, but with influencers – having such a popular online presence only increases a person’s chances of being shunned and embroiled in trouble.
2023 has already had its fair share of influencer scandals and controversies.
Here are just a few of the biggest that rocked Queensland.
SKYE WHEATLEY: Promoting tanning beds
Former Big Brother Australia contestant, and mother of two, Skye Wheatley found herself in hot water in April, 2023 when she promoted the use of a collarium, a tanning bed, to her more than 620k Instagram followers.
The 29-year-old Gold Coast influencer shared an Instagram post after using the collarium – a red-light and UVA tanning lamp that claims to stimulate collagen, unlike blue-light UVB solariums which were banned in Australia in 2015.
In her post, Wheatley said “I wasn’t expecting to get any colour at all,” and “I actually wanted to buy one for myself so I’m already sold”.
After sharing images of the controversial product, comments flooded in from her followers, criticising her promotion of the potentially dangerous device, one comment stating “You absolutely do not understand how skin cancer is caused. There is no level of ‘safe tan’ … there are many impressionable ppl [sic.] you are reaching”.
Wheatley went on to defend her decision in an Instagram story post, claiming that the device was not a solarium and the pressure being put on influencers is “insane”.
“Guys please understand what I used today WAS NOT A SOLARIUM HONESTLY how many times do I have to say et [sic.] take it up with whoever made it legal if it’s such a problem …” she posted.
She also uploaded Instagram stories reminding her followers to get their skin checked before stating “ … tell Me how this is any different from someone laying in the sun or being out in the sun?”
“The sun has stronger UV rays and no one says s***.” Wheatley said
Wheatley, who co-founded the clothing brand ‘Good Peoplè Apparel’ found herself in similar trouble a few years earlier in July 2019 when she posted a YouTube video in which she said she “lacks empathy” for women in abusive relationships.
The influencer stated “I lack empathy for people who bring s*** situations into their own lives”.
“For example, if a girl is with a guy that beats her and she’s in a position to leave but doesn’t and she stays with him … They are bringing it on themselves.” said the then 25-year-old.
She later apologised for her “off the cuff comments” stating “they were not meant to be interpreted the way they have been” and that she was truly sorry.
JACKSON O’DOHERTY: Inappropriate jokes
Controversial prankster and TikTok star, Jackson O’Doherty is known for his over-the-top ridiculous pranks, however some recent videos posted to his more than six million followers on TikTok were not as well received as intended.
The OnlyFans content creator who has more than 10 million followers across Instagram, YouTube and TikTok has earned his large following for his outrageous public pranks, including screaming in public, jumping into water fountains and not being afraid to make a fool of himself.
O’Doherty tested the limits of his public pranks in May, 2023 when he went into various Australian mattress shops with a woman pretending to be his sister and “help her buy a new mattress’ by simulating sexual positions and kissing her in front of the store’s workers.
The videos at three separate mattress shops earned more than six million views collectively, with commenters stating the Gold Coast prankster went “too far”, one person writing “that’s lowk [sic.] a lil too far”.
Another user commented “The workers were so embarrassed” to which Jackson replied, “that was the goal”.
The backlash didn’t end there for O’Doherty, when some TikTok users began calling him out for his series ‘Dark Humour Challenge’ with fellow Gold Coast influencer Julian Woods, in which they attempt to get the other person to laugh through offensive jokes.
The jokes related to sexual assault, paedophilia, the Holocaust and necrophilia.
Woods was also involved in the controversial joke making, at one point saying “Statistically what’s something that nine out of 10 people enjoy? Gang r*pe”.
“What‘s the best part about duct tape? It turns a ‘no’ into an ‘mmm’.” Woods said in another video.
TikTok users were quick to show their disapproval of the jokes, commenting “time to grow up boys” and “peaked in high school type jokes”.
One TikTok user reshared O’Doherty’s video on July 20, calling O’Doherty and Woods out for making jokes about sexual assault.
“Jokes like this aren’t okay,” the user wrote.
“Because instead when someone talks about sa [sexual assault] or p3d0p1l1a [paedophilia] it’s not taken seriously, people find it funny”.
Formerly the owner of a Gold Coast Playboy-style mansion that came to be known as ‘Jackson’s Playground’, O’Doherty continues to post pranking content and hosts his own podcast The Shadow Banned Show, interviewing OnlyFans stars and influencers.
HENNY MOODY: Calling people ‘lazy’
A content creator and fitness influencer, Henrietta ‘Henny’ Moody found herself on the receiving end of some backlash after posting a motivational video in which she called people not achieving their dreams “lazy”.
The Gold Coast-based influencer and OnlyFans star works as a creative director at fashion label Rare Collective alongside influencer Lauren Simpson, as well as hosts her own podcast Unified Mood.
Known for sharing a range of workout, motivational, fashion and beauty content, Moody shared a video on July 26, 2023 where she said she would share “the difference between you and someone who wakes up early and has mastered the morning routine”.
“I can guarantee you none of these bimbo influencers with aesthetically pleasing routines, perfect wardrobes, immaculate skin care regimes and impeccable training schedules have ever had the courage to tell you this,” Moody said.
“Well, today is that glorious day and I hope that this message sticks with you a lifetime … you are lazy and they are not.
“They are disciplined and you are not, you are full of bull-s*** excuses and they are not.
“They are hungry to make their goals happen, you don’t even try and yet everyday you complain that you don't have the dream life you want.”
Moody goes on to accuse viewers that they are angry at the world and blame everyone for their problems, and should instead use that anger and that energy to change their lives.
“There is no f***ing secret to it. it is as simple as this, you go to bed with purpose, your alarm goes off, you get your a** up to the gym, no matter how you feel,” Moody said.
“And every time you think of snoozing your alarm, think of me telling you how lazy you are and that you will forever be a prisoner of your s***ty life and then make the decision to prove me wrong and do it for you.”
The Instagram video which goes alongside her message features clips of Moody doing skincare, putting makeup on, cooking food, getting changed and working out at the gym.
Followers were quick to call out Moody on her video, some commenters calling her “ableist” and “tone deaf”.
“Sorry but no. It’s much more complex than that and mental health plays a big role. This post is tone deaf.” one commenter wrote.
Another person commented “Imagine basing your entire day on your appearance and claiming it as success. What a waste of a purposeful life.”
Moody stood by her comments in the video, sharing positive direct messages she’s gotten from fans to her Instagram story following the backlash, reiterating that the video is only going to resonate with people who want to actually make change.
Outside of her work with Rare Collective, Moody offers a $381 course entitled ‘Make S*** Happen – Be That Girl’, offering lessons in resilience, routine and achieving goals.
KATE SZEPANOWSKI: Possessing stolen passport
Kate Szepanowski, sister of influencer Chloe Szepanowski, made news headlines in May 2023 after she and her partner Jordan Roman Brennan were found in possession of a stolen Australian passport and driver's license.
The Gold Coast based influencer and her partner both pleaded guilty to receiving tainted property at Brisbane District Court in May 2023 after a warranted search of their home on July 14, 2020 uncovered the passport and license.
Brennan was taken into custody on other charges following the police raid and was released in September 2022.
Brennan was fined $1000 with a conviction recorded while Szepanowski was fined $750 with no conviction recorded.
A mother of one, Szepanowski has more than 120k followers and was previously on the receiving end of hate comments during the Covid pandemic when she shared anti-vax views in a picture of vaccine misinformation with the caption “This is why I would rather die than get that poison injected into me”.
In another post she wrote, “Covid-19 = false news. NEXTTTTT”.
Szepanowski is currently pregnant with a second child to Brennan.
ISABELLE GRACE: Transphobic comments
A former reality TV contestant, mother of one and entrepreneur, Isabelle Green, known by her handle @isabellegrace found herself embroiled in controversy in January 12, 2023 when she made transphobic comments on her Instagram story.
The former Love Island Australia contestant who has more than 85k Instagram followers shared a meme on her Instagram story reading ‘Your ancestors who were bombed in trenches watching you have a panic attack when you forget your cherry vape at home’ with a self-written caption reading “no offence … but wtf happened to our generation?!!”.
“this whole trans thing, nope not for me.” Green’s caption read.
“It’s got to stop – it’s called mental illness. Kkk bye”
The mother-of-one deleted her post shortly after receiving backlash, with one TikTok user re-sharing the deleted Instagram story and calling Green “transphobic” and stating that she has a “duty of care”.
“You have a duty of f***ing care, but you also have a lot of f***ing privilege,” the TikTok user said.
“Perhaps get yourself an education … you’re what’s wrong with this generation.”
Green is now an entrepreneur who runs her own business ‘The Wealthy Woman Collective’, offering women free content and 30-minute phone calls to ‘master the art of manifestation’ in business, money and life.
TAMMY HEMBROW: Sunbathing after melanoma scare
One of Australia’s most followed Instagram influencers, entrepreneur and fitness queen Tammy Hembrow received some backlash in June, 2023 after posting images posing in a bikini in the sun, weeks after having a melanoma removed.
The Gold Coast-based influencer who boasts 17 million followers announced on June 3, 2023 that she had “quite a big chunk” of melanoma taken out of her leg after a skin check, requiring 30 stitches.
On June 29, 2023, Hembrow posted the bikini photo posing in the sun in which you can see the bandage covering her recent melanoma removal, with one comment reading “OMG, U [sic.] just had a melanoma removed and r [sic.] sunbathing”.
“Literally still has the bandage on from having a melanoma removed and now posting photos of herself suntanning. It’s like she wants to get skin cancer?” Another commenter wrote.
Founder of the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation, Jay Allen OAM or ‘The Melanoma Man’ also commented on the post, calling out Hembrow stating “advertising a bikini out in the sun is the wrong message”.
“So many young people will see this post, probably thousands, and go an [sic.] buy the bikini and sunbake and get burnt. Therefor [sic.] putting them at risk of developing melanoma.” said Allen.
“Come on mate. Change your ways to influence and save lives rather then [sic.] push people to sunbake.
“I’ve lost 71 friends to melanoma in 15 years. It’s nothing to take lightly. Especially when you’ve been diagnosed already.”
The bikini photos promoting swimwear brand Neena Swim are still up on Hembrow’s Instagram profile.
Tammy Hembrow is a mother of three, the founder of clothing brand Saski and fitness program Tammy Fit, as well as part of a famous influencer family, with her sisters Emilee, Amy and Starlette all influencers themselves.
ASX WOLF: Banned from carrying financial services
Tyson Robert Scholz, a financial influencer or ‘finfluencer’ nicknamed, ‘ASX Wolf’ was banned from carrying on financial services business in Australia after a Federal Court ruling in April, 2023.
The Federal Court action was brought about by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in December, 2022, after the Gold Coast based influencer was found to have contravened the Corporations Act by providing in financial services without a licence.
Nicknamed ‘The Wolf of Surfers’, Scholz once boasted more than 21k Instagram followers for his account @asxwolf_ts, where he proclaimed himself as a global equity trader with a “market-leading” trading course, as well as offering subscriptions and membership fees of $500, $1000 or $1500 for various levels of share trading training.
The first major court action from ASIC found that Scholz had received a total of $1,156,500 for private tips, Discord mentorship and Zoom seminars between October 2020 and August 2021.
During the Federal Court action, a court heard that Scholz would use his Instagram account to show off his lavish lifestyle, posting photos of expensive cars, speedboats and champagne.
In February 2023, Scholz sold his Sanctuary Cove waterfront mansion for $4.6m.
MIKAELA TESTA: Lying about cosmetic surgery
Gold Coast-based influencer and OnlyFans content creator, Mikaela Testa was involved in some controversy in June, 2023 after she said she had been lying to fans about a controversial cosmetic procedure.
The 23-year-old influencer, originally from Perth, continuously denied undergoing a ‘Brazilian butt lift’ surgery or ‘BBL’ – a dangerous cosmetic surgery which changes your figure by transferring fat into the buttocks area.
Testa, who boasts 2.3 million TikTok followers and 751k Instagram followers, admitted to having two rounds of the surgery as well as a fat transfer to her hips on the White Fox After Hours podcast, before addressing her confession in a TikTok video on June 15, 2023.
“For an entire year, I told all of my followers I lied about having a BBL, I’d tell all of my followers I’d had no plastic surgery when in reality I was just lying,” she said.
“It is one of the most disgusting things I’ve done in my entire life, and I spend every single day regretting and trying to reverse the damage that I’ve done.”
Testa revealed that part of the reason for her undergoing the procedure was insecurities that arose from a previous “toxic” relationship with her previous partner who allegedly encouraged her to keep her surgery a secret from her followers.
“ … Girls can do some dumb freaking stuff when in a toxic situation, when someone is telling them to do something, someone they love and adore and value their opinion so much,” Testa said.
“And that is why immediately after the break-up I just came out and said the truth because there was no reason to keep lying, and keep getting hate, and keep going down this road I didn’t even want to go down with to begin with.”
She ended the video by stating that she didn’t regret getting her surgery, but regretted the reasoning behind getting her surgery, receiving mixed opinions from followers.
Some commenters praised Testa’s admission, one comment stating “taking accountability is the most freeing feeling and I’m so proud of you, you should be proud of yourself to [sic]”.
Others called out Testa on her “blaming” her ex for getting her BBL surgery, some commenters writing “she loves a blame game” and “blame your ex for everything instead of accountability”.
One of Australia’s most successful OnlyFans adult content creators, Testa often shares pictures on Instagram travelling around Europe and working with brands including fashion label White Fox Boutique.
Originally published as Controversies, cancellations: Biggest Qld influencer scandals of the past year
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