‘Year 10 formal’: Aussie TikTok creators lash out at awards bash
Creators have labelled the event “a mess”, with claims the venue was foggy from vaping and there was not a free drink in sight.
The TikTok Awards have wrapped up for another year, but another show is now happening online.
Creators on the app have come out criticising the organisation of the event, held in Sydney at the International Convention Centre on Wednesday evening.
The platform has now responded after several attendees claimed their experience wasn’t as glamorous as they had hoped it would be.
Taylah Glachan, mother from The Glachan Quad Squad, was among those taking to TikTok to share her disappointment.
The NSW mum of quadruplets said she hired a dress and got all dolled up in preparation for the red carpet.
“There was kind of this hype there would be a red carpet, and things like that; however, that wasn’t really the go,” Ms Glachan said.
She described the scene as “chaotic”, claiming that no one really knew what they were supposed to be doing. She was unsure how to access either of the two red carpets because of the crowding and long, intersecting queues.
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“I was just kind of feeling for a lot of those people that flew in interstate, that paid for hair and makeup, that were really hoping to get those media experiences,” Ms Glachan shared.
Ms Glachan expressed that the show, the performances and hot Sophie Monk were great. It was just everything before curtain up that left her feeling shortchanged.
Melbourne model Frankie Evans echoed the criticism with her own post.
“I reattended my Year 10 formal. I feel like it was quite a tacky event,” she bluntly said.
Ms Evans also praised the performances and the Content Creator of the Year winner, Ilai Havea Matangi, a.k.a Havea676.
“Creators and influencers were vaping inside. The whole room was so foggy. Because of the vape… I just thought that was extremely disrespectful,” Ms Evans said.
“Security spent all night yelling at girls because everyone’s dresses kept getting caught in the escalators.”
Ms Evans also shared that guests were required to buy their own drinks and there was limited options available for food.
“Everyone had to buy their own drinks, which kind of brought the influences down to earth a little bit which I liked. TikTok has a lot of money though so probably shouldn’t be doing that,” Ms Evans recounted.
“What I thought was the most messed up part of it all, is from 5:30 till 8 o’clock they shut all food and drinks. So you couldn’t even get a bottle of water.”
That was also a note of concern for popular creator Fidan Shevket, who attended the show as a guest.
“It kind of seems a bit strange there was no drinks. Like soft drinks, or champagne and beer. After everything we give TikTok, I don’t know they could have shouted us something,” Ms Shevket said.
Health creator, Doctor Michael, went as far as to reassure those who were sad they missed out that they “dodged a bullet.”
“Do not be fooled by the polished look on the TV. It was a mess. A real mess. It was like sardines in a can,” he said.
He compared the event to previous ones where free food and drink were available for attendees, and scenes were a lot more tame.
“I went to [the] TikTok awards two years ago, and it was small, it was intimate, you could actually talk to people. I got to talk to creators that follow me, and we got to make pals,” he reflected.
“This time, none of that. None of that at all. You’re telling me that TikTok could not get a food or drink sponsor to do that event?”
TikTok has now issued a statement in response to the negative commentary online.
“Two hours before guests were set to arrive, we were advised of an incoming extreme weather event with forecast winds of over 70km/h. The venue’s risk management team deemed these conditions unsafe for the media wall and some of the activations to be outside. We were given two choices - move inside, or cancel the media wall altogether. In the interest of guest and staff safety, and creators being able to walk the red carpet, we made the decision to move inside. We are devastated that this unexpected change may have impacted some guests’ experience, but this was a force majeure situation, and safety must always come first,” a TikTok spokesperson told news.com.au.
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Originally published as ‘Year 10 formal’: Aussie TikTok creators lash out at awards bash
