Cole Walliser, the director and filmmaker renowned for his high-speed Glambot videos of celebrities on red carpets, has publicly apologised following the leak of emails from 2019 that have been widely condemned as condescending and unprofessional. The 44-year-old content creator, who gained fame in 2016 for his slow-motion captures of stars at major awards ceremonies, addressed the controversy in a video posted to his Instagram account on Tuesday.
Addressing the Email Controversy
In his statement, Walliser acknowledged that the tone in his past communications was dismissive and curt, admitting this was unacceptable. He explained that during 2019, he operated without a team, personally editing every video and responding to all emails while feeling overwhelmed. However, he emphasised that this circumstance did not excuse his behaviour, stating unequivocally that everything lands on me.
Responding to Racism Allegations
Walliser also confronted allegations of racism that emerged from the email exchanges, revealing his personal background as someone of Chinese descent. He described how issues of identity, race, and belonging deeply affected him during his upbringing, asserting he would never intentionally inflict similar pain on others. The filmmaker acknowledged that readers of his emails could reasonably assume bias, particularly given the frequent experience of people of colour being dismissed, and accepted full responsibility for his words regardless of his intent.
Red Carpet Interactions Acknowledged
The Glambot director, whose work has featured at prestigious events including the Grammys, Golden Globes, Emmy Awards, and Academy Awards, extended his apology to individuals who felt mistreated during red carpet interactions. He recognised that live events proceed rapidly but stressed he never wants anyone to leave an encounter feeling dismissed or treated as less than. Walliser admitted such incidents did occur and expressed sincere regret for them.
Commitment to Improvement
Reflecting on personal growth over the past seven years, Walliser affirmed his commitment to treating everyone with deserved respect while acknowledging more could be done. He pledged to focus on continuous improvement, describing these issues as thoughts that had been weighing heavily on him before he decided to share them publicly.
The Leaked Email Exchanges
The controversy originated when a Reddit user shared what appeared to be a 2019 email exchange between Walliser and Yinka Animashaun, a potential client inquiring about booking his services for a wedding. In the correspondence, Walliser emphasised the Glambot's premium status as camera system and personnel used by network television stations for major red carpet events, noting it was not cheap.
Specific Allegations Detailed
When Animashaun confirmed the service would be within her budget range, Walliser allegedly responded that he didn't believe her assertion since he hadn't yet provided a quote, estimating costs between $10,000 and $1 million. After she asked about next steps, he purportedly quoted $300,000 with a 10% deposit requirement. When she indicated she would follow up by Monday, the alleged response from Walliser suggested she needn't pretend about booking if she merely wanted pricing information.
Social Media Reaction
Reddit users expressed outrage at the exchange, characterising Walliser's communication as unprofessional, condescending, and reminiscent of scam behaviour. Critics questioned why someone of his purported stature would handle his own correspondence so poorly rather than employing booking staff or simply providing rates promptly.
Additional Alleged Exchange
In a separate Reddit thread, another user shared screenshots of an alleged 2019 Instagram exchange where a potential client inquired about wedding booking. Walliser reportedly responded by noting there was a reason Glambot appeared only at the Oscars, Grammys, and Golden Globes, concluding with money bag emojis. Some social media users defended this particular response as merely providing realistic expectations.
Recent Context and Jennifer Lopez Incident
The resurfaced emails follow recent controversy surrounding Jennifer Lopez's behaviour during her Glambot shoot at the Golden Globes. Video footage showed the singer turning her back as Walliser provided instructions, though he subsequently defended her actions in a video statement, explaining he didn't take it personally and it didn't feel rude in the moment.
Walliser's apology represents his first comprehensive response to the email scandal that has generated significant social media backlash and raised questions about professional conduct in high-profile entertainment services.
