Horrified fans slam TikTok influencers admitting they've been lying about content just one day before ban
Influencers have found themselves in hot water after jumping on a last-minute trend and revealing what they've lied about to gain millions of followers - leaving their fans disgusted ahead of the app's blackout in the US.
Many content creators took the opportunity - before losing their livelihoods when the ban comes into effect on Sunday - to drop bombshells and expose that their most popular videos had always been fake.
One social media star who ruffled feathers with the trend is Lexi Hidalgo - as she admitted to her 2.7million followers that some of her most iconic content was made up.
The influencer rose to fame with her 'coffee chats' and workout videos, which were beloved by many. But on the eve of the US TikTok ban, Hidalgo decided to reveal a secret about the clips.
She said: 'There's one more secret I feel I have to share with you. I never once drank the coffee I made in my coffee talks. And only did like half the workouts I posted.'
Her admission caused outrage, with one follower writing: 'I hope that post helps people realize how she actually is! She’s not a good human I fear.'
Another furious follower chimed in: 'This one took me out. That’s the reason (plus the workout videos) that I followed her and both were lies??? Instant ick.'
And a third user added: 'Just think about all of the worse lies she would never admit to if she thinks these things that are the core of her brand is no big deal. Obviously not the end of the world but just shows her entire online persona is fake. Not sure how anyone could ever trust her.'
Lexi Hidalgo used the last-minute trend to admit to her 2.7million followers that some of her most iconic content was phony
Content creator Sara Uy decided to reveal to her followers that one of her most-watched videos, with 47million views on TikTok, was all a complete stunt
Hidalgo deleted her initial video, and then attempted to backpedal by saying: 'The coffee was always for my mom, I drink the coffee now - just not when it was iced and super sweet in 2020.
'I did the workouts. Just not when I posted them. I was a kid on a brand new app. I didn't know better yet.'
Many TikTok fans were quickly irritated by the last-ditch trend of influencers exposing their own dishonesty - after years of throwing their support behind a 'bunch of liars.'
'So, you all lied? You built this following based on a lie?' one wrote on Reddit. 'I know I shouldn't be surprised, but it's just so odd.'
'Cannot wait until the documentary on the lies of influencers come out in a few years,' another wrote. 'They are just marketers with faces to them,' a third wrote.
Sara Uy, who gained a following by sharing her corporate life in New York City, was also among the content creators to expose that she lied about her videos.
The influencer's most watched clip - raking in over 47 million views on TikTok - showed her doing an outfit 'check' before heading out for dinner, but in the video, she quickly realized that she 'forgot' to put her skirt on.
Standing in her apartment with just tights on her legs, the startled content creator's reaction made millions of people laugh when it was posted last year.
But now with the app on the brink of a blackout, Uy decided to reveal to her followers that it was all a complete stunt - and her reaction was phony.
She said in a video on Friday: 'I didn't actually "forget" to put my skirt on after I put on my tights.'
Immediately her comment section was filled with disbelieving fans: 'How could you do that to us?!' one wrote, while another added: 'THIS WHOLE TIME?! I thought it was real!'
Xandra Pohl, who became big on social media by posting about her life at college in Miami and her ritzy Hamptons vacations with her ex-boyfriend, took to TikTok to reveal that he had in fact 'cheated' on her
Other influencers, like beauty influencer, Meredith Duxbury, (pictured) who claimed to have used 10 pumps of foundations on her face in one video (left), revealed she actually 'did wipe some of those 10 pumps off.' However, she insisted the latest video was a joke
Serena Kerrigan, who dubbed herself the 'Queen of Confidence,' used the trend to admit that she had been on Monjauro - a weight loss drug similar to Ozempic - this whole time, despite previously denying it.
'Yes, that was a Monjauro pen in my fridge,' she wrote on the video. 'It quieted the food noise that held me hostage since middle school.'
'Girl, we knew,' one fan replied.
Beauty influencer, Meredith Duxbury, who became a viral sensation on the app for using a ridiculous number of pumps of foundations on her face, also came out and admitted she only did the stunt as rage-bait.
'I did wipe some of those 10 pumps off...' she wrote on the video. However, the question still remains as she captioned the video: 'Or did I?'
Some influencers used the TikTok trend to reveal juicy details about their personal life as a final farewell to the app, which helped them rake in hundreds of thousands of dollars through brand deals and sponsorships.
DJ Xandra Pohl, who became big on social media by posting about her life at college in Miami and her ritzy Hamptons vacations, took to TikTok to reveal that her ex-boyfriend had in fact 'cheated' on her.
Many of her 1.3million followers had been speculating about what caused the shocking split - and felt vindicated that the influencer finally admitted it. One wrote: 'We’ve been waiting for this one.'
Another added: 'THE WAY MY JAW DROPPED,' as a third chimed in: 'BYE I HAVE BEEN WAITING. I AM LOVING ALL THE CONCLUSIONS TO ALL MY CURIOSITIES.'
Serena Kerrigan (left), who dubbed herself the 'Queen of Confidence,' revealed on Friday that she had been on Monjauro - the sister to Ozempic - this whole time, despite previously denying it. DJ Xandra Pohl (right) revealed her ex-boyfriend, who she did not name, 'cheated'
Other influencers like Charli D'Amelio took the trend more lightheartedly. She agreed with her haters who have often said they don't see why she is so famous, saying: 'I still don't understand the hype either [to be honest].'
Content creator Josh 'Bru' Brubaker revealed his bosses were totally on-board with his on-air shenanigans and actually 'loved the stupid things I did on the radio.'
'Never was in trouble,' he wrote.
The Circle star used to take random words from his followers and find a way to use them in a sentence before song played, like butter and butterfly.
He also posted a video where he 'accidentally' played Cardi B's WAP instead of a Morgan Wallen song. He feigned surprised - per a fan's request - before quickly changing the song.
'Y'all want me to lose my job, huh?' he said at the start of the video before pulling the prank.
Despite the trend's intention of being lighthearted and funny, many were saying they were 'hurt' by the revelations.
'My whole life is a lie,' one wrote.
'I feel like I've been lied to my whole life,' another agreed.
'No, this is the only one that has hurt,' a third wrote.
Influencers have found themselves in hot water after revealing what they've lied about to gain millions of followers, leaving their fans disgusted. Some influencers, like Charli D'Amelio (pictured) played it safe and agreed with her haters that she didn't get the 'hype' around her
Despite the trend's intention of being lighthearted and funny, many were saying they were 'hurt' by the revelations
Another accused influencers of clinging to relevancy before TikTok's potential blackout on Sunday.
'That sounds is full of people trying to grasp for whatever relevancy is left on TikTok.'
Others pointed out that TikTok's disappearance in the US might not even happen and influencers are exposing themselves prematurely.
'They are acting like they are dying,' a Redditor wrote. 'Even if TikTok goes away they have other platforms and now everyone knows [you're] a liar.'
'This would be so exciting if TikTok stays and they just exposed themselves [as f**k],' another agreed.
