The phrase that inspired a trend! Why do people block VIPs and influencers?

TikTok users have launched a pretty serious “campaign” encouraging people to block celebrities and influencers on the social network. The movement called “digitine” (a portmanteau of “digital” and “guillotine”) is attracting a lot of attention and is said to be a way to punish VIPs and influential people on the network, thereby returning power to the people. simply. The purpose of blocking is to prevent them from making money from advertising and doing business with different brands.

How did the trend start?

The trend was inspired by the recent fashion event, the Met Gala 2024, where celebrities revealed they spent a lot of money on extravagant outfits and bought a $75,000 ticket to the event. (Ticket price reported by BBC). So began a parallelism with the whole bubble in which famous people live, who have the luxury of paying such characters with the daily challenges in which normal people live. TikTok users compared the whole situation to “The Hunger Games,” a dystopian film in which the poor are separated from the rich.

The trend was started by a TikTok user, @ladyfromtheoutside, who pointed out that a model and influencer ( @haleyybaylee ) Haley Kalil (who had 10 million followers on TikTok but has recently been blocked) posted a video from the Met Gala in which she says one of the phrases supposedly uttered by French Queen Marie Antoninette. The phrase “Let them eat cake” is said to have been said against poor people during the French Revolution.

TikTok users immediately attacked Haley with comments, calling her “cruel” and “heartless” for using such an expression while the world faces hunger and genocide in Gaza, Congo, Kurdistan, etc.

The girl who started the trend says: “It's time to block celebrities, influencers, rich society and those who have a lot of resources and draw attention to people in need.”

Kalil apologized and deleted the video from social media, saying he used the expression without knowing its nature and meaning. She said it's part of her appearance and that she's under-informed, but people don't believe her.

“Digitine” is coming and none of the VIPs are safe. The trend also included the Kardashians, Jenners, Taylor Swift, Drake, etc. People are also commenting on the Met Gala videos, and not just “Everyone from Rafah” (the area in Gaza under violent attack by Israel). more attention.

On the other hand, they follow other people, especially those who have stood up strongly for Gaza and spoken out openly and courageously against the injustices committed.