Last week a few influencers were caught on camera at a house party to celebrate New Year’s Eve. The influencers in question reside in Manchester which is in Tier 4 lockdown, meaning no mixing of households.
It wouldn’t have been so bad had the influencers not posted on their social media that they had planned on spending the evening in alone, with one even asking her followers for recommendations for a glamorous outfit as she wanted to spend her evening in still looking glam – mhmm.
Once caught, the influencers coincidentally all at the same time and all with the same message, posted to their Instagrams with apology videos and saying how sorry they were to let everyone down.
Do influencers think they are above the law when it comes to restrictions and lockdowns? Is it one rule for all and another for them?
Ain’t no party like a covid-spreading party
Since it’s all over the internet, the influencers that were caught up in the scandal, @rachleary, @hanxrenee and @madisonsarah_ were spotted on video at a flat party in Manchester on New Year’s Eve.
Many quickly took to Twitter to complain and express their outrage with a few even saying they had reported them to Manchester police and suggesting they should face fines for their actions.
These three influencers were of course not the only ones to party into 2021, but for the majority of us who sat at home and watched Jools Holland and Tom Jones see us into the New Year (what more could one want?) it was a kick in the teeth and extremely angering to witness these social media stars flout the rules.
Do they not watch the news? Can’t they see that the number of cases are rising rapidly every day? Did they not see that influencer Grace F Victory was put in an induced coma only a week ago due to contracting COVID-19?
My insincerest apologies…
I have to admit that the only apology video I watched was that of Rachel Leary’s. Once I witnessed how insincere that came across, I couldn’t bring myself to watch the others.
How on earth can one apologise for doing something that they already knew was wrong when they did it?
How can an influencer apologise when the only reason they are doing so is because they were caught out? What is ‘sorry’ going to do for anyone?
We have been in this lockdown situation for nine months, this is not brand new information. There is a new and more dangerous strain doing the rounds and yet influencers with 200,000+ followers each go and party and put it on social media.
I think it was too late for an apology when you thought it a good idea to go to a New Year’s Eve party.
Similarly, let’s not forget the apology videos that came after the bPerfect launch event in Belfast which created large crowds, no social distancing and influencers flying in from the UK and Ireland who left higher restrictions.
A trip to Dubai anyone?
More influencers were seen holidaying in Dubai during December, as they were legally allowed to do. Morally however, well that’s up to them and those that choose to follow the influencers.
Personally, I haven’t been on holiday and haven’t planned any holidays in the near future as it just isn’t worth the risk and isn’t essential. If the UK had closed its borders a long time ago like Australia and New Zealand, we wouldn’t be in this situation right now.
How can those flying to Dubai justify that they are acting in a safe manner? It just spreads the virus like wildfire and a holiday in the dessert can wait until the UK gets a handle on the situation, surely?
Are celebs above the law too?
We saw on the news last month that Miss Rita Ora was fined thousands of pounds for having a gathering for her birthday. Clearly above the law and immune from catching the virus, Miss Ora held a party for her nearest and dearest clearly misremembering that we are in the midst of a pandemic.
In even worse news, Zara Holland of ‘I was Miss-GB’ and Love Island fame (most likely influencing detox teas on Instagram) tried to flee Barbados after her boyfriend tested positive for COVID-19.
I kid you not. The couple were not allowed to leave their hotel, were given red wristbands and were due to be taken to a secure facility to quarantine. However, when the guards returned to their room to take them to the facility, the wristbands had been cut off and the pair had fled in a taxi to the airport.
Judging by this, ex-Miss GB and her boyfriend were planning on catching a flight (probably with a connection) back to London, probably catching a train and another taxi to their house where they would have stayed for all of two hours before infecting more people with the virus.
Where is the responsibility? Where are their morals? Unfortunately for them, they were caught and now face thousands of pounds in fines and prison sentences. I would have taken the two week prison sentence with a beach-view if it was me.
Do influencers have a responsibility?
Of course they do. They may not have asked for this responsibility, but they are followed by hundreds of thousands of people, they create content for their followers and they know that a lot of these followers will come to them for advice and guidance in life.
So of course these influencers have a duty to act responsibly and abide by the law. It’s not one rule for them and a different rule for the rest of us. We’re all human and we can all contract this virus.
Influencers should already be aware that everything is caught on camera in today’s world. Everything. Even when you think you’re having an intimate gathering of ten people, once that goes online, there’s no stopping who’s going to see it and who’s going to recognise the people in it.
All we can do, influencers and us mere mortals, is to follow the guidance, abide the law, and do our bit to keep us and those around us safe. Stay home, wash your hands and wear a face mask.
Postpone your trip to the desert for another year.
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