Organisers of the TikTok Awards in Australia have issued a formal apology after several prominent social media creators alleged they were deliberately excluded and treated disrespectfully on the event's red carpet.
Creators Detail Humiliating Experiences
Multiple nominees took to the platform to share videos detailing their negative encounters with photographers. Florence Baitio, nominated for Beauty and Fashion Creator of the Year, claimed a photographer refused to take her picture and told her to leave the carpet. "It was so embarrassing," she said, adding that she had seen the same photographer taking numerous photos of other attendees.
Creator Niiyèll posted a video snippet in which a photographer is heard telling her, "this has nothing to do with you, we don't need your photo. What are they going to do with your photo?"
Similarly, Maxi Ducer recounted an almost identical experience, stating a photographer looked at her and refused to take photos, saying, "we don't want your photos. What are we going to do with your photos?" She interpreted the behaviour as a judgement on her perceived influence. "When they look at us, they don't think we have the influence," Maxi stated. "It's not about the photos, but you can't speak to me that way."
Official Apology and Explanation
Following the public outcry, TikTok Australia released a statement on Sunday addressing the complaints. "We sincerely apologise to anyone who felt excluded or uncomfortable at this year's TikTok Awards," the statement read. "We are deeply upset that some of our valued guests had a negative experience."
The organisers cited a weather warning that forced last-minute changes, claiming the red carpet space was halved, which made the flow of people "challenging." They also emphasised their commitment to diversity, noting that more than one third of this year's nominees were from culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The statement concluded by saying, "We appreciate the feedback to help us improve future events."
Broader Industry Issues Highlighted
For the creators involved, the incident was not an isolated one. Maxi Ducer pointed out that such treatment has been a long-standing issue. "We've been dealing with this kind of stuff for many years in this industry," she said, explaining her decision to speak out was to "bring everyone's attention to what's happening."
The controversy has sparked a wider conversation about representation, respect, and the perceived hierarchy of influence at events designed to celebrate digital community success.
