A UK festival has banned influencer Harrison Sullivan, known online as HSTikkyTokky, following his appearance in Louis Theroux's Netflix documentary on the manosphere. The decision comes after the documentary highlighted Sullivan's controversial online persona and his promotion of dubious investment platforms to his young audience.
Sullivan, 24, boasts hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok and Kick, where he showcases a lavish lifestyle in Spain, including a built physique, luxury cars, and a harem of models. He tells his followers they can achieve similar success by signing up to an investing platform, from which he takes a cut even if they lose money.
In the documentary, Sullivan admits to saying outrageous and offensive things solely to provoke reactions and monetise attention. He tells Theroux he does not believe the offensive things he says, but profits from them nonetheless. He aspires to be valued in billions by the time he reaches Theroux's age.
The festival's ban reflects growing scrutiny of influencers who profit from toxic content. The documentary portrays the influencer economy as a trap, where creators are beholden to algorithms and audiences, often leading to banal and soul-destroying lives behind the glamorous facade.
