“Fans Can’t Believe the NYC Influencer Drama Taking Over TikTok”
In a world where individuality is supposedly celebrated, New York City influencers have somehow managed to turn it into a monotonous parade of sameness. Enter Bridget, a TikTok user with fewer than 100 followers, who casually dropped a bomb on March 7 with her now-viral video declaring, “All right, guys, I’m just gonna say it, I hate all of the New York influencers.” Her critique? They’re all “boring as f–k” and “carbon copies of one another,” complete with identical bracelets and hand chains. What started as a rant from a relatively unknown user quickly spiraled into a full-blown cultural debate, racking up over 2 million views and thousands of comments.
The crux of the argument? Authenticity—or the glaring lack thereof. Bridget’s video struck a chord with many who feel that NYC influencers, often transplants from wealthy suburban backgrounds, have diluted the city’s gritty, diverse charm. As one commenter put it, “Influencer culture in NYC makes zero sense because part of what makes NYC cool is the authenticity and individuality.” Meanwhile, native New Yorkers like Sarah Torkornoo (@sarahfromnewyork) chimed in, pointing out that the city’s true influencers—artists, baristas, bartenders, and small designers—are rarely given the spotlight.
Of course, the influencers in question weren’t about to take this lying down. Brigette Pheloung, one of the presumed targets, stitched Bridget’s video in a since-deleted response, mocking the criticism. Alongside her twin sister Danielle Pheloung, Halley Kate, and Kit Keenan (yes, the daughter of designer Cynthia Rowley and a former *Bachelor* contestant), these influencers have become emblematic of a homogenized, cookie-cutter aesthetic that many argue is anything but authentic.
But let’s not pretend this is just about fashion or aesthetics. At its core, this debate is a scathing commentary on the commodification of culture and the platforms that perpetuate it. As photographer Olivia Joan pointed out, the conversation has forced people to confront the uncomfortable truth that many influencers are, in her words, “kind of all frauds.”
So, what does this mean for the future of content consumption? If TikTok’s reaction is any indication, audiences are craving something real—something that doesn’t involve the same five people wearing the same five outfits in the same five locations.
And yet, here we are, still talking about them.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online
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