Gold Coast man Benjamin Morris under fire over luxury Hamilton Island trip with social media stars

A Gold Coaster who sold “rich people only” holidays with some of Australia’s biggest social media stars is being pursued by out-of-pocket investors who claim he took a luxury island trip on their money.

A GOLD Coaster who sold “rich people only” holidays with some of Australia’s biggest social media stars is being pursued by out-of-pocket investors who claim he took a luxury island trip on their money.

Bondi-based company Vacay Seltzer claims to to have forked out $20,000 for attendees’ accommodation, flights and activities on what it describes as a promise the start-up would be pitched to wealthy businessmen taking part in the getaway.

Along with the drink company, some of Australia’s top social media influencers, and a Gold Coast entrepreneur known as “the dark prince of the internet”, have some connection with the glamorous Hamilton Island jaunt organised by New Zealand-born Benjamin Morris, 32.

Gold Coast man Ben Morris poses at Palazzo Versace.

Mr Morris joined a gaggle of female social media models – with a combined online following of more than 850,000 – for the weekend in a high-end Airbnb in late August. They enjoyed a seaplane flight and yacht cruise along with gourmet meals and drinks.

According to the statement of claim filed by Gold Coast entrepreneur Hunter Johnson at Southport Magistrates court against Mr Morris and his company on September 10, 16 influencers including Annabelle Gelly, Evie Maree, Sasha Morpeth and Julia Zeito were to attend the weekend event at the invitation of Mr Morris.

There is no suggestion that any of these women had any involvement in the organisation of the weekend’s events; nor are they accused of any wrongdoing.

The influencers were told they were on a free holiday to promote the Vacay Seltzer brand – which they tagged prolifically in sun-kissed posts by the sea.

The seltzer start-up says it got involved in the weekend after Mr Morris made representations as to the benefit it would have to promote its business.

Instagram model Evie McLelland posted from Hamilton Island.

Posts made by social media influencers from the trip. Some identities have been obscured for legal reasons.

Through his Varsity Lakes-registered company Boss Media Empire, Mr Morris had told Vacay Selzter the exposure would help attract wealthy investors.

The business had been looking to raise several hundred thousands dollars to expand the domestic reach of the product.

According to the company, Mr Morris urged them to go bigger – saying that with more investment they could hatch a lucrative United States deal.

Images posted to social media on the Hamilton Island trip organised by Ben Morris.

A Vacay spokesman said: “I told him we didn’t have the funds to grow into the US and he said he would do an event on Hamilton Island.

“He said he would invite wealthy investors and they could experience the brand, see the potential of it and buy into it.”

They set to work preparing a pitch for the investors, who were supposedly going to see it at a dinner presentation by Mr Morris.

Annabelle Gelly posted from Hamilton Island during the trip.

“We paid for flights and accommodation, a seaplane, we sent stock up there,” the spokesman said.

“But I called people who were at the event – none of them were aware of the pitch – they had not seen or heard of it.

“He has since gone silent.”

Gold Coast man Ben Morris (left) on board a yacht at Hamilton Island in footage posted online by one of the influencers.

On top of charging Vacay Seltzer for flights and accommodation, Mr Morris also took payments from other innocent “investors”.

Mr Johnson – who paid Mr Morris’s company almost $12,000 for the trip and was then blocked from joining – compared the scheme to the infamous Fyre Festival.

That festival, also backed by a bevy of social media influencers, was a disaster after thousands paid top-dollar for a luxury island event which had limited food, accommodation or acts.

Mr Johnson said he had hosted an earlier private yacht party where he first met Mr Morris and later agreed to meet up for lunch.

“He was sort of a friend of a friend of a friend, no-one really knew what he did,” Mr Johnson said. “I thought he was nice enough, but kind of weird.”

He believes Mr Morris had targeted him for his money.

“I’m a very wealthy guy, I pull in $500,000 a month, I have a house in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast, I drive a McLaren,” Mr Johnson said.

“The retreat was portrayed as a luxury vacation, and influencer meet-up and content creation opportunity.

Gold Coast Hunter Johnson also known as the dark prince of the internet said he paid $12,000 for a trip with Mr Morris's company

“I asked him for an invoice – $12,000 isn’t much to me and I was interested in what would happen.”

The invoice – a copy of which was supplied to the Bulletin – was for flights; three nights in a villa; a Michelin dining experience; jet skis; transfers; and a $1500 VIP experience.

“I called him out on his bulls*** before the trip ever happened.”

As a result, Mr Johnson said he was blocked from communicating with Mr Morris, who did not send him an itinerary, confirmation or other details about the trip he had paid for.

“Ben had a little Dan Bilzerian weekend with the girls,” claimed Mr Johnson, referring to global online playboy Mr Bilzerian, known for surrounding himself with beautiful women in exotic locations.

One of the influencers, who went to Hamilton Island and did not want to be named, said the “girls had no idea about any of this” and were “pretty upset about the whole situation”.

She declined to comment further.

Posts made by social media influencers from the trip. Some identities have been obscured for legal reasons.

Mr Johnson said his legal team had served Mr Morris with a notice to appear in Southport Magistrates Court for alleged misleading and deceptive conduct and breach of contract over the furore.

In his statement of claim, Mr Johnson said the retreat offered “an opportunity to collaborate with other social media influencers and to assist in developing and growing (Mr Johnson’s) social media following”.

The claim said attendees of the retreat were told 16 high-level influencers would join them and that they would receive a seaplane trip to Heart Reef, luxury yacht expeditions, a Great Barrier Reef diving experience, jet ski tour and “cocktail soirees” every evening of the trip.

Optional extras included a chauffeured Rolls Royce to the airport and private jet transfers.

Mr Morris has until October 14 to file and serve a defence. The seltzer start-up is mulling legal action of its own.

Company records show Mr Morris founded Boss Media Empire in March 2018, and was director on and off before the company was struck off by ASIC in July 2020.

In November 2020, he registered a new company with the same name with himself as sole director and shareholder.

His other company, Boss Yacht Club, has previously promoted luxury escapes to international events including the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, Grammys, Golden Globe Awards and Super Bowl.

Its Instagram bio states the private club is “for rich people only”.

Screenshot from Boss Yacht Club social media.

A screenshot from Boss Yacht Club social media.

Although his businesses spruik an uber-luxurious lifestyle, peppered with sports cars, beautiful women, wads of cash and private jets, Mr Morris’s ASIC-registered home address is a $680/week rental at Ormeau.

Multiple attempts by the Bulletin to contact Mr Morris by phone, and through the law firm where his business is registered, were unsuccessful.

“Rich people only” for Boss Yacht Club.

For Vacay Seltzer, the impact of the exercise has affected more than the small business’s bottom line.

“It’s been quite damaging,” the spokesman said.

“I’m exceptionally sceptical of anyone trying to help me anymore.

“And it was a hit to cash flow at a time when there’s no money coming in (due to NSW lockdowns) – 95 per cent of our business is pubs and clubs.”

Correction: The original version of this article mistakenly confused Hunter Johnson, a Gold Coast-based internet entrepreneur, with a man of the same name in Victoria. We would like to clarify that Melbourne-based Hunter Johnson, the well-respected founder and CEO of the charity The Man Cave, has nothing whatsoever to do with Benjamin Morris or his Hamilton Island promotion. Mr Johnson is not an investor and he is not involved in litigation. We sincerely apologise to Mr Johnson for the error.

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