Anti-vax influencer apologises for ‘mistake’ after not wearing a face mask in Big W

A Gold Coast influencer who is “bleeding followers” since sharing her controversial views on vaccines and lockdowns has apologised after defying mask rules.

A Gold Coast influencer who has been “bleeding followers” since sharing her controversial views on Covid-19 vaccines and lockdowns has apologised after filming herself at Big W without a face mask on.

Chloe Szepanowski and boyfriend Mitchell Orval documented their visit to a shopping centre in a YouTube video on Sunday. The pair filmed their trip to Big W to purchase a potty for their one-year-old son Arti, angering thousands of fans in the process as neither were wearing a mandatory face mask.

Currently people in southeast Queensland are required to wear a face mask when they leave home in most indoor and some outdoor spaces, unless they have a lawful reason not to.

The couple, who spruik wellness products and have shared anti-Covid opinions in recent weeks, are not believed to be medically exempt from wearing a mask during the pandemic.

In a message to her 653,000 Instagram followers this afternoon, Szepanowski wrote that she is “not anti or pro anything”, but believes in “choice”, “science” and “complementary modalities & western medicine as it saves lives – they are supportive to each other”.

“Where I live, I am lucky enough to have more freedoms than other places & for this I am grateful,” she added.

“I never want to come across as abusing those rights. It was my mistake for publicly not wearing a mask and I take ownership of that mistake.

“I completely understand that times are really hard right now, for everyone. Each in their own individual way. Everyone has their suffering right now and no ones is less than anyone else’s. Compassion and unity is the only way forward. Kindness. And looking after our mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing in whatever way serves us best. It’s more important than ever right now.”

Fans were quick to point out Chloe wasn’t wearing a mask despite health orders making them mandatory. Picture: YouTube/ChloeandMitch

Fans of the 22-year-old and her outspoken partner – best known as the son of Angry Dad – quickly blew up at the original video, blasting the couple for not following “simple” health procedures and putting others in danger.

“It is absolutely disgusting that you think it is okay to use a platform like this to literally endanger and risk other people’s lives,” one person raged.

“It’s disgusting seeing you and Chloe not wearing masks while out shopping. You’re clearly too privileged,” another flamed.

“Yikes guys … the self entitlement is gross,” another commented.

Chloe has seen a dramatic dip in followers. Picture: Instagram/AussieInfluencerOpinions

In recent weeks fans have been unfollowing the pair after sharing their anti-lockdown and vaccine views. Picture: TikTok/tiarnehcc

In recent weeks, both Szepanowski and Orval have lost thousands of follows in response to their outspoken views on lockdowns and vaccines.

On TikTok, the hashtag #chloeszep has been flooded with videos from former fans explaining they are no longer following the pair after they revealed they were anti-vax.

“I’ve never hit unfollow so quick in my life wow,” one video, viewed more than 364,000 times, was captioned.

“@chloeszep babe there’s people that are dying,” another captioned their video, which called out the influencer for “promoting anti-vax, lockdown protests and dangerous misinformation”.

Others shared videos of them unsubscribing from their accounts and emails.

@chloeszep

♬ original sound - chloeszep

Szepanowski responded to the criticism with a TikTok video titled, “How to continue on with your day even if you don’t agree with something”.

In it, she skips past the camera, stopping momentarily to look at the camera before continuing on out of frame.

The video offended many, with people claiming it was the “final nail in the coffin” and others suggested she was about to be “permanently cancelled”.

“The whole of Australia is over them at the moment … I’ve never unfollowed someone so fast,” one wrote. “They’re bleeding followers at this point.”

“I am just so disappointed. I have followed you for YEARS. You are dangerous,” another stated.

In a statement to the Outspoken podcast regarding the fallout from her anti-science views, Szepanowski said she was “losing followers by the day and I literally am waving them goodbye. The more alignment for me, the better. Only up from here.”

In a separate Instagram post on the topic, she also criticised those who have come after her, stating they “have an illness worse than any virus going around now”.

Originally published as Anti-vax influencer apologises for ‘mistake’ after not wearing a face mask in Big W