Announcing she bought a house, the 21-year-old influencer tearfully responded to not having a ‘real job’: ‘I actually do’

• The British TikTok influencer made a video to celebrate buying her first home at the age of 21.

• Some commenters suggested that her post was insensitive to people struggling to make ends meet.

• The influencer apologized for offending her but said she was proud of herself and her work.

The 21-year-old influencer defended herself after announcing she had bought her first home, as viewers said she didn’t deserve it due to the nature of her job.

April 8, Kathleen Bailey, a British TikTok influencer with 2.8 million followers who typically posts about inspirational content Self love And lifestyle content about spending time her grandparents And FriendsPosted by a Video A confetti cannon the size of a champagne bottle popped up, with an on-screen caption reading, “Mortgage free and a homeowner at 21!!!”

Bailey’s video received 3.8 million views, which is relatively viral compared to her other posts, which receive hundreds of thousands of views. While many commenters supported the influencer, pointing out that being a homeowner at her age is a huge achievement, others criticized her posts, suggesting that her posts are insensitive to others who are out of touch and struggling to afford rent and housing.

One person wrote: “It’s so sad that people who make less can get this and people who put their lives on the line can’t afford a heater.”

“Meanwhile, everyone has real jobs and struggles to make ends meet,” wrote another commenter.

A number of commentators have commented on how they could not afford a home without a mortgage with wages in current industries, which include the care sector and engineering, suggesting that influencers earn a disproportionately large amount of work. They do. As one person put it: “The maximum for the minimum effort.”

As Insider previously reported, UK residents are turning to TikTok. As a country, to share money saving tips to deal with the country’s cost of living problem It has seen food and energy prices rise. Last year. A UK-based housing and homelessness not-for-profit shelter; This has had a particularly devastating effect on low-income tenants – the latest figures show that around 2.5 million UK residents are behind or constantly struggling to pay their rent.

The story continues

On April 10, Bailey posted a follow-up Videoshe tearfully apologized to her viewers in response to the online response.

“I’m sorry for anyone who feels dependent on the house thing. Yes, the system is completely broken. I’m very lucky that I never raise my head,” she said.

The influencer added that she “didn’t grow up with money” and is proud of herself for being able to buy a house because of her job, which she says requires hard work.

“I actually do, and let me tell you something, social media is very mentally exhausting,” she said.

The post has garnered 3.7 million views, with commenters responding to the influencer’s statement saying they don’t feel obligated to apologize for the negative comments.

One person wrote: “Don’t sit there and apologize for what you have achieved. You should be proud and so should everyone else.”

In the past, influencers who have shared videos about large or elaborate purchases have been accused of making their posts unrealistic for many people.

Insider reported in October Lifestyle influencer Kunleen Blackwell faced backlash after telling her Tik Tok followers that she bought a sofa for $100,000, before suggesting it was all a joke. next month, Influencer and solo fan creator Tara Lynn has been slammed for allegedly spending $10,000 on Harry Styles tickets on Tik Tok.

Bailey’s representatives did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.

For more stories like this, check out our coverage from Insider’s Digital Culture team here.

Read the original article on Insider