A British influencer visiting Australia has ignited a social media controversy after describing Anzac Day as the ‘best day of the year’ and indulging in ‘pre-drinks’ at 7am. Allegra Phipps, who is documenting her trip for her 51,000 followers, faced sharp criticism after posting the remark on the national day of remembrance.
Anzac Day Traditions
Anzac Day is traditionally observed with dawn services and moments of reflection to honour Australian and New Zealand service members who have served and died in military conflicts. Following the solemn ceremonies, many Australians gather at pubs and RSL clubs to play Two-Up, a gambling game that is legally permitted only on a few days each year.
Revelry in Sydney
In Sydney, queues began forming outside pubs as early as 8:30am on Saturday, with a long line of revellers waiting to enter The London in Paddington. Among the crowd was Phipps, who posted a now-deleted video on her social media, alluding to drinking at home at 7am before joining the festivities.
‘Pres (pre-drinks) at 7am?!!!!’ she wrote in a caption alongside a clip of herself dancing. Although the video was removed, social media users captured screenshots and quickly shared them in a Facebook group, questioning her tone and intentions.
Social Media Backlash
People on social media angrily shared the video, questioning whether Phipps had confused Anzac Day with Australia Day. ‘Why are we having pres for ANZAC Day?’ one user wrote. Another commented: ‘Referring to ANZAC Day as the best day of the year is just extremely out of touch.’ A third suggested Phipps may have misunderstood which public holiday it was: ‘Surely, they're mixing it up with Australia Day? That's all I can fathom.’
Response from Phipps
The Daily Mail has contacted Phipps for comment. On Sunday, she appeared in a video with another female content creator, hitting back at the haters online. The pair could be seen dancing, pouting, and blowing kisses at the camera with the caption: ‘How it feels to be super hot, funny, skinny, happy and not a member in a... Facebook group’.
