With most of the world population in some form of confinement due to the varying lockdown protocols in each country, the time has never been more convenient for our favourite celebs to use their platforms to encourage us all to follow the rules.
Whilst many of us have followed government guidance and stayed at home in order to prevent the spread of the virus, various A-Listers and Z-Listers haven’t done the same. From Rita Ora to Molly-Mae Hague, some well-known faces seem to think that Covid-19 only infects those that aren’t famous, and as a result, have fallen prey to a new virus: #Covidiocy. For things to change, we must stop supporting these influencers and celebrities who are breaking lockdown rules.
Looking at any verified influencer’s Instagram account, you wouldn’t even think that there’s a global pandemic. Their feeds are brimmed with bikini-clad beach pics from the Maldives, snapshots of the Dubai skyline, or videos with a large gaggle of their friends clinking their cocktails in Saint Barts. It comes as no surprise that these celebs have faced significant backlash for their posts, however, they have clapped back stating that they are merely abroad or meeting others for ‘work’ reasons. Full disclosure, going to Dubai on holiday during a national lockdown is not essential travel.
As social media users, we must take the power away from these influencers and stop supporting them. I’d even go so far as to say just unfollow them instead. Why? Because this type of ‘work ethic’ is twisted, cruel and a total lie. Worst of all, these influencers are making money whilst they jet set across the globe, promoting sponsorship deals and advertising the luxurious resorts they are staying at.
Take Ex-Love Islanders Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury as examples. They flew to Dubai just before Christmas and documented every second of their trip on YouTube because making content from home proves too difficult. For a proper five minutes at the beginning of their vlog, the couple are on a plane, chatting to the camera with their masks off. What kind of example is this setting to their viewers? We must remember that there is a reason people like Molly-Mae are called influencers. They are worshipped by millions of all ages (in her and Tommy’s case, a combined army of eight million people). Breaching the rules for the sake of a vacation to the UAE sends the wrong message to their audience. If everyone mimicked their favourite influencer’s actions, the number of cases would inevitably rise. What’s the easiest thing to do? Stop supporting these insensitive individuals.
It isn’t just minor celebrities that are breaking the rules. Undoubtedly, the hypocrisy of some of showbiz’s most high profile celebrities is so apparent during this worldwide crisis it has become laughable.
Let’s start with Kim Kardashian, who at the beginning of 2020, begged her fans to abide by the guidelines. According to her social media accounts, she spent most of her summer living it up on some private island, with her glam squad of course, as it would be criminal to not look her best whilst ignoring the pandemic.
Rita Ora has followed suit as well, throwing a lavish 30th birthday bash in London back in December, joined by the likes of Cara Delevingne. Yet unsurprisingly, she only appeared remorseful and eager to inform others on the severity of the pandemic once she lost several thousand followers.
Celebrities are contributing to the hundreds of Covid related deaths each day and getting away with murder because of their high-profile statuses. It’s offensive to all the key workers risking their lives every day. This must stop immediately, and we have the ability to do this by pressing the unfollow button.
Social media is rife with celebrities that are laughing all the way to the bank thanks to their large following. If we want to halt all famous people’s rule-bending behaviour, unfollowing these #Covidiots removes their power, and will make them realise how severe this pandemic actually is.
