Adult content creator Annie Knight has publicly criticised her former friend, Bonnie Blue, following Blue's recent arrest in Bali and subsequent minimal punishment for alleged involvement in creating pornographic material.
A Controversial Escape from Severe Penalties
Bonnie Blue, whose real name is Tia Billinger, 26, was detained in Bali earlier this month. She was suspected of making explicit content with more than a dozen men during what was described as a 'sex game' at a Schoolies event. In Indonesia, where producing or even viewing pornography is illegal, the charges carried a potential 15-year prison sentence and a staggering fine of AUD $541,000.
However, in a surprising turn, Billinger avoided these severe consequences. She was instead fined just AUD $20 for traffic violations related to her blue pickup truck, infamously labelled the 'Bangbus'. The court also imposed a 10-year ban from entering Indonesia.
Knight's Stinging Rebuke of 'Disrespect'
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Annie Knight, 28, expressed her dismay at the outcome. While stating she did not wish to see her former friend imprisoned, Knight labelled the tiny fine as 'super disappointing' and argued a heftier financial penalty would have been appropriate.
'The way Bonnie continued and still continues to mock Indonesia as a country, further disrespecting their laws and their beliefs but managed to get away with a $20 fine is insane,' Knight said. She warned that the case sets a dangerous precedent, suggesting to other travellers that they can 'get away with anything' in Bali.
Knight also slammed Billinger's conduct during the arrest process, calling it 'utterly insane' to vlog at an immigration centre and promote a sex work platform while facing a potential 15-year jail term.
Travel Bans and Industry-Wide Repercussions
With Bonnie Blue now banned from Indonesia, Australia, and Fiji, Knight suggested the model was creating serious future travel problems for herself by flouting laws. 'I assume it will be harder for her to travel overseas due to these multiple visa violations,' she noted, pointing out that many countries would now be reluctant to grant her entry.
Knight highlighted particular concerns about the United States, where Billinger's ESTA travel authorisation has reportedly been revoked before. She referenced former President Donald Trump's policy (note: this is a dated reference from the source material) requiring social media histories from visitors, questioning how Billinger would fare.
Perhaps most significantly, Knight argued that such incidents harm others in the adult content industry. 'Any time we [people in the adult industry] go overseas for a holiday, we are paranoid that we will be deported even though we're not doing anything wrong,' she explained. She fears the Bali scandal will make it harder for legitimate creators to travel freely, as countries become more wary.
A Fractured Friendship and Public Feud
The public criticism follows a pre-existing, fiery rift between the two women, which played out on the Australian Kyle & Jackie O radio show. During that appearance, Knight accused Billinger of betrayal, claiming 'she basically just turned around and stabbed me in the back.' She alleged Billinger tried to have her banned from the OnlyFans platform.
When contacted during the radio segment, Bonnie Blue showed little interest in reconciliation, stating her priorities lay elsewhere. 'My priority is for the people I'm sleeping with and the people I'm entertaining with,' she said. She also countered Knight's claim of being supportive, accusing her of posting falsehoods about her on social media.
Speaking separately to the Daily Mail, Billinger confirmed mending the relationship was 'not a priority.'
