Gabby Epstein bench post speaks volumes about younger generations

A controversial post by a Gold Coast influencer has exposed a simple truth about modern life in Australia.

For the younger generations of Australia, it seems there is a new public enemy number one … the public.

Whether it’s the ringing of the doorbell, the ringing of the phone or a, gulp, face to face interaction IRL (In Real Life, for the uninitiated), many a Millennial and Gen Z would rather lick a razor blade than engage in small talk with a stranger.

Despite this predilection for privacy in public, they love to share their inner thoughts and personal photos on social media to a potential audience of millions. Ahh, the folly of youth.

Unfortunately, this new-school version of social anxiety turned into an internet storm over the weekend after one of Australia’s hottest glamour models found herself in hot water after a social media story from her Gold Coast hometown.

Model Gabby Epstein and the post that landed her in hot water. Picture: Supplied

Influencer and model Gabby Epstein, who boasts four million followers on Instagram as well as a huge following on Snapchat, Twitter and OnlyFans, posted a photo of the ‘happy to chat’ bench at Q Super Centre in Mermaid Waters.

The bench, part of an opposing and socially-distanced pair, was installed by management during peak Covid times as a safe space to connect during times of isolation.

However, given the passing of the pandemic context, Ms Epstein was clearly mortified at the idea of a seat made specifically to talk to randoms.

As she posted over the photo: “I would literally throw up on someone if they sat next to me on a bench and started talking. This country is in shambles.”

As mentioned, this seems to be a pretty typical anxiety amongst the younger generations

Now, as someone who will talk to anyone, anywhere about anything, and who still prefers to call rather than text, I do not understand this anxiety. But I understand that I am becoming the minority.

Indeed, I have seen fear sparkle in the eyes of the person standing next to me in line, in the shop, on the train as I open my mouth to chat. I have especially seen it in the rolling eyes of my children, as I strike up yet another conversation with a stranger.

While I don’t identify with Ms Epstein’s anxiety, I assumed her younger (than me) audience would.

Wrong.

Just an hour after that initial post, Ms Epstein posted pages of DMs sent to her, blasting her for her sentiments with comments such as: “WTF is your problem.” “What’s wrong with you?” “What a c—- thing to say.”

Ms Epstein boasts four million followers on Instagram as well as a huge following on Snapchat, Twitter and OnlyFans. Picture: Supplied

Ms Epstein was clearly incredulous, captioning the screenshot: “Out of all the things I have posted THIS is what y’all are most upset about?? Might I suggest touching some grass?”

(FYI ‘touching grass’ means getting back to reality.)

“Am I actually insane or do people not get that this is a joke?”

Now, I understand her confusion, but the problem is she didn’t realise that, in 2025, nothing is funny … and everything is political.

No matter where you are in the world – Australia, the USA, UK, Germany, France – political tensions have never been so heightened.

The result being that everything is political right now – the social media platforms you use, the podcasts you listen to, the emojis you use, the brands you support, even, or especially, the car you drive.

In fact, I know a handful of people considering selling their Teslas lest they be considered supportive of the questionable politics and opinions of Elon Musk. Even if you try to avoid politics altogether, you will be accused by each side of silently supporting the other, or of being too privileged to care.

So when Ms Epstein jokingly (I assume) described the country as being ‘in shambles’, no one was laughing.

Indeed, reactions to that comment included: “QLDs take on abortion, celebrating genocide on 26th, the current economy and the possibility of Peter Dutton being our next PM but nah this bench got the country in shambles.”

And this: “How is the country in shambles? Don’t sit on the chair then. Kids are starving to death and getting their legs blown off and this is your biggest complaint? Grow the f—- up.”

Regardless of the sensibility or otherwise of these sentiments, the state of the nation was clearly not the point of the post.

Perhaps Ms Epstein did not read the room … but then neither did the commenters.

But you know what would have solved this misunderstanding?

Having a chat IRL.

Oh, the irony.