25 Unhinged Influencers That Made The Headlines For Infuriating Reasons
Shocking things influencers did to make headlines.
Creating a social media presence is hard work. Always having fresh content to draw in audiences can be a lot of pressure. No wonder you see influencers desperately trying to do anything that will get them more views, clicks and followers. But sometimes the levels they will go to are extremely dangerous or even illegal.
The Instagram account Influencers In The Wild has curated a collection of posts based on the most unhinged things influencers have done to get into the headlines. Scroll below to check out some of the most shocking things influencers did that made it onto the news.
Image source: influencersinthewild
Torres, a former model who claimed to have spiritual powers, lured vulnerable followers to live with her in the US, promising to help them achieve their dreams. She coerced them into working as strippers and prostitutes, taking their earnings and isolating them from friends and family. The FBI became involved when two women were reported missing, leading to a search that ended with their rescue. Torres denies all allegations, but over 20 women have reported being scammed or exploited by her.
Image source: influencersinthewild
“A Tennessee woman, identified as Katie Miller, filmed herself at a grocery store checkout line, claiming a man behind her was staring. However, many online users pointed out that the man was simply waiting for a self-checkout kiosk and not acting inappropriately. The woman’s actions were seen as a bid for online attention and sparked widespread criticism.”
Image source: influencersinthewild
Image source: influencersinthewild
Miles Routledge, a 23-year-old British YouTuber, was reportedly captured by the Taliban in January.
Routledge, who is better known as “Lord Miles,” says in his Twitter bio that he visits “the most dangerous places on Earth for fun.”
This is not his first time in Afghanistan. Shortly before the Taliban took over in 2021, he traveled as a “war tourist” and was evacuated from the country by Britain when the city of Kabul was falling.
Reports state that Routledge is being held alongside two Polish nationals.
"I am just desperate to know that he is safe. He keeps traveling because he loves it, he's only young and he's just finding himself after finishing university. I just want him to keep safe,” Lord Miles’ mother told the Daily Mail.
Image source: influencersinthewild
Image source: influencersinthewild
“A 17-year-old YouTuber from Bennet, Nebraska has been charged with two felony counts for allegedly causing a train derailment to create content for his YouTube channel. The incident occurred on April 21, 2024, resulting in over $350,000 in damages. The teen reportedly tampered with a switch, causing a BNSF train to collide with a damaged coal car on a repair track.”
Image source: influencersinthewild
In November of 2021, YouTuber Trevor Jacob jumped out of a plane, allowing it to crash. He uploaded footage of the crash in a video titled “I Crashed My Plane.”
According to the Department of Justice, Jacob recently pleaded guilty to one count of destruction and concealment with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation, a charge that could carry a sentence of 20 years in prison.
Image source: influencersinthewild
Choi, known as ‘Alex Choi,’ orchestrated the production of the video, which lacked necessary permits and authorizations. The video, titled ‘Destroying a Lamborghini with Fireworks,’ showed two women in the helicopter targeting the luxury car. Choi faces up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted.
Image source: influencersinthewild
Image source: influencersinthewild
Just weeks after Argentina’s victory, he reportedly regrets getting the tattoo.
“I regret having done the tattoo because instead of bringing me positive things, it’s led to lots of negative things, both personally and for my family,” he said in a video posted to Instagram.
Image source: influencersinthewild
Reynolds paid the woman $20 as part of a scavenger hunt challenge. The woman, who expressed her inability to swim, dove into the lake and struggled in the water. Reynolds panicked and fled the scene, leaving the woman to struggle. Emergency responders were dispatched to the lake, and the woman was rescued. Reynolds defended her actions in a subsequent live stream, claiming she left at the behest of her team.
Image source: influencersinthewild
Image source: influencersinthewild
Image source: influencersinthewild
“21-year-old Tanner Cook, who runs the YouTube channel Classified Goons, was shot while filming a prank video at Dulles Town Center mall in Virginia on Sunday
The prank reportedly involved the use of Google Translate. When a 31-year-old man named Alan Colie became offended by the joke, he shot Cook in the abdomen inside the mall’s food court.
Cook survived the gunshot wound after undergoing surgery. He says this will not stop him from filming similar videos in the future.”
Image source: influencersinthewild
A legal dispute between two social media influencers may have significant implications for the industry, according to legal experts. A Texas-based influencer with over 500,000 followers has initiated a lawsuit against another content creator, alleging the unauthorized duplication of her TikTok, Instagram, and Amazon Storefront posts.
Sydney Nicole Gifford, 24, has accused Alyssa Sheil, 21, of copying her “neutral, beige and cream aesthetics” and promoting similar Amazon products. The lawsuit, filed in Texas, claims that Sheil’s posts featured “identical styling, tone, camera angle and/or text” to Gifford’s, with at least 30 instances of alleged duplication.
Image source: influencersinthewild
Ruby Franke, a former YouTube “momfluencer” was sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of aggravated child abuse.
Her business partner, Jodi Hildebrand, received the same sentence for her role in the cruelty.
In her plea agreement, Franke admitted to physically torturing her 12-year-old son, holding his head under water, depriving him food, and tying up his hands and feet after he attempted to escape.
Franke’s 9-year-old daughter endured similar abuse.
Franke hid the abuse for years and documented her family’s daily life in Utah on her popular YouTube channel “8 Passengers.”
Image source: influencersinthewild
Director Tim Hunter posted a video showing destroyed plants and pleaded for visitors to not ‘kill our lavender’. The lavender fields have taken 10 years to cultivate, with some plants being 20 years old. While grateful for visitors, Hunter expressed concern about those who take photo opportunities ‘a bit too far’. The farm has put up signs advising proper behavior, but the increasing popularity has led to more damage for the sake of 10-second photos.
Image source: influencersinthewild
TikToker Amelia Goldsmith filmed a video at the grocery store trying to buy a stranger’s groceries.
When she approached shoppers at checkout, they did not understand why she was offering to pay for their food. Some appeared to be mildly offended.
After no one accepted her offer, she bought items to add to a food bin at the store.
At the end of the video, Goldsmith was in tears. “I’m just really overwhelmed right now, I don’t know what’s going on,” she said.
Image source: influencersinthewild
A young woman was filmed engaging in inappropriate behavior with a statue of Bacchus in Florence, Italy. Italian officials are attempting to identify her and have expressed outrage over the incident. If identified, she could face fines and a potential lifetime ban from the city. The statue is a replica of a 16th-century work by Giambologna.
Image source: influencersinthewild
Alena Agafonova, a 23-year-old Russian influencer, was reportedly imprisoned and sentenced to 10 months of labor for “tickling the breast” of a famous war statue.
Additionally, she has been banned from using social media for two years.
Image source: influencersinthewild
TikTok star Katie Sigmond faces criminal charges for hitting a golf ball into the Grand Canyon.
The now-viral video of the incident shows that when Sigmond swung to hit the ball, part of the club went flying.
The national park addressed the video from its Facebook page saying, “Do we really need to say, ‘don’t hit golf balls into the Grand Canyon?’"
Image source: influencersinthewild
Miami real estate broker Daniela Rendon, 31, used $381,000 in Covid relief funds for luxurious personal purchases like a Bentley and cosmetic procedures.
She has now been sentenced to 3.5 years in prison and fined $198,990 for wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft.
Image source: influencersinthewild
Image source: influencersinthewild
Image source: influencersinthewild
#1 Instagram influencer Kat Torres has been sentenced to eight years in prison for human trafficking and slavery of a young Brazilian woman.
Image source: influencersinthewild
Torres, a former model who claimed to have spiritual powers, lured vulnerable followers to live with her in the US, promising to help them achieve their dreams. She coerced them into working as strippers and prostitutes, taking their earnings and isolating them from friends and family. The FBI became involved when two women were reported missing, leading to a search that ended with their rescue. Torres denies all allegations, but over 20 women have reported being scammed or exploited by her.
#2 I’m honestly shocked to find out that the entire world revolves around every single person. I did not know this, but looking back, there were signs.
Image source: influencersinthewild
“A Tennessee woman, identified as Katie Miller, filmed herself at a grocery store checkout line, claiming a man behind her was staring. However, many online users pointed out that the man was simply waiting for a self-checkout kiosk and not acting inappropriately. The woman’s actions were seen as a bid for online attention and sparked widespread criticism.”
#3
Image source: influencersinthewild
#4 Jokes aside, we all love attention. Some of us more than others, but I cannot emphasize this enough, it is not worth risking your life for views. We’ve all seen and heard of enough people being injured or dying after falling off a mountain, or edge of a cliff, but to go into very dangerous territory just to make a YouTube video, it’s almost beyond the pale. Please be careful out there. Information below:
Image source: influencersinthewild
Miles Routledge, a 23-year-old British YouTuber, was reportedly captured by the Taliban in January.
Routledge, who is better known as “Lord Miles,” says in his Twitter bio that he visits “the most dangerous places on Earth for fun.”
This is not his first time in Afghanistan. Shortly before the Taliban took over in 2021, he traveled as a “war tourist” and was evacuated from the country by Britain when the city of Kabul was falling.
Reports state that Routledge is being held alongside two Polish nationals.
"I am just desperate to know that he is safe. He keeps traveling because he loves it, he's only young and he's just finding himself after finishing university. I just want him to keep safe,” Lord Miles’ mother told the Daily Mail.
#5
Image source: influencersinthewild
#6 At this point, you should have to fill out a permit to open a social media account
Image source: influencersinthewild
“A 17-year-old YouTuber from Bennet, Nebraska has been charged with two felony counts for allegedly causing a train derailment to create content for his YouTube channel. The incident occurred on April 21, 2024, resulting in over $350,000 in damages. The teen reportedly tampered with a switch, causing a BNSF train to collide with a damaged coal car on a repair track.”
#7 This kid sucks
Image source: influencersinthewild
In November of 2021, YouTuber Trevor Jacob jumped out of a plane, allowing it to crash. He uploaded footage of the crash in a video titled “I Crashed My Plane.”
According to the Department of Justice, Jacob recently pleaded guilty to one count of destruction and concealment with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation, a charge that could carry a sentence of 20 years in prison.
#8 Suk Min Choi, a 24-year-old YouTuber, has been charged with causing the placement of an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft for a video stunt where a helicopter fired fireworks at a Lamborghini in the California desert.
Image source: influencersinthewild
Choi, known as ‘Alex Choi,’ orchestrated the production of the video, which lacked necessary permits and authorizations. The video, titled ‘Destroying a Lamborghini with Fireworks,’ showed two women in the helicopter targeting the luxury car. Choi faces up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted.
#9 American YouTuber Addison Pierre Maalouf, known as YourFellowArab, was allegedly kidnapped in Haiti and held for $600,000 ransom while traveling to interview notorious gang leader immy “Barbecue” Cherizier. On Saturday, reports said Maalouf was released.
Image source: influencersinthewild
#10 A Colombian influencer known as @mike_jambs got Messi’s name tattooed on his forehead after the World Cup.
Image source: influencersinthewild
Just weeks after Argentina’s victory, he reportedly regrets getting the tattoo.
“I regret having done the tattoo because instead of bringing me positive things, it’s led to lots of negative things, both personally and for my family,” he said in a video posted to Instagram.
#11 Social media influencer Natalie Reynolds is accused of coaxing a non-swimmer into jumping into Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas, during a live stream, then abandoning the scene when the woman cried for help.
Image source: influencersinthewild
Reynolds paid the woman $20 as part of a scavenger hunt challenge. The woman, who expressed her inability to swim, dove into the lake and struggled in the water. Reynolds panicked and fled the scene, leaving the woman to struggle. Emergency responders were dispatched to the lake, and the woman was rescued. Reynolds defended her actions in a subsequent live stream, claiming she left at the behest of her team.
#12 There’s stupid. And then there’s STUPID. “A 19-year-old Georgia motorcyclist who fled police posted footage of the chase on TikTok. The content was discovered by law enforcement and a warrant was issued for his arrest.”
Image source: influencersinthewild
#13 Petition to start calling influencers “dingoes” Two tourists were recently fined $1,500 each for taking selfies with dingoes. Australian authorities say the women were lucky not to be attacked during their photo-op.
Image source: influencersinthewild
#14 It could have been worse, but he said this will not deter him from filming “prank” videos.
Image source: influencersinthewild
“21-year-old Tanner Cook, who runs the YouTube channel Classified Goons, was shot while filming a prank video at Dulles Town Center mall in Virginia on Sunday
The prank reportedly involved the use of Google Translate. When a 31-year-old man named Alan Colie became offended by the joke, he shot Cook in the abdomen inside the mall’s food court.
Cook survived the gunshot wound after undergoing surgery. He says this will not stop him from filming similar videos in the future.”
#15 I’m sure the lawyers are happy
Image source: influencersinthewild
A legal dispute between two social media influencers may have significant implications for the industry, according to legal experts. A Texas-based influencer with over 500,000 followers has initiated a lawsuit against another content creator, alleging the unauthorized duplication of her TikTok, Instagram, and Amazon Storefront posts.
Sydney Nicole Gifford, 24, has accused Alyssa Sheil, 21, of copying her “neutral, beige and cream aesthetics” and promoting similar Amazon products. The lawsuit, filed in Texas, claims that Sheil’s posts featured “identical styling, tone, camera angle and/or text” to Gifford’s, with at least 30 instances of alleged duplication.
#16 It was only a matter of time until we had the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory of mommy bloggers. I’m sure most of them mean no harm, but we’ve all seen those mommy bloggers who seem a little “too perfect”. I never assumed it went this dark, but it was always at least a little off putting. Full details below:
Image source: influencersinthewild
Ruby Franke, a former YouTube “momfluencer” was sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of aggravated child abuse.
Her business partner, Jodi Hildebrand, received the same sentence for her role in the cruelty.
In her plea agreement, Franke admitted to physically torturing her 12-year-old son, holding his head under water, depriving him food, and tying up his hands and feet after he attempted to escape.
Franke’s 9-year-old daughter endured similar abuse.
Franke hid the abuse for years and documented her family’s daily life in Utah on her popular YouTube channel “8 Passengers.”
#17 Hitchin Lavender, a farm in Hertfordshire, has urged visitors to stop damaging their lavender plants by sitting or lying on them for social media photos.
Image source: influencersinthewild
Director Tim Hunter posted a video showing destroyed plants and pleaded for visitors to not ‘kill our lavender’. The lavender fields have taken 10 years to cultivate, with some plants being 20 years old. While grateful for visitors, Hunter expressed concern about those who take photo opportunities ‘a bit too far’. The farm has put up signs advising proper behavior, but the increasing popularity has led to more damage for the sake of 10-second photos.
#18 On our new board game, it’s a BIG deal if you do a good deed and don’t film it. To experience this and other influencer type moments, click the link in my bio. There’s other merch there too! Story below:
Image source: influencersinthewild
TikToker Amelia Goldsmith filmed a video at the grocery store trying to buy a stranger’s groceries.
When she approached shoppers at checkout, they did not understand why she was offering to pay for their food. Some appeared to be mildly offended.
After no one accepted her offer, she bought items to add to a food bin at the store.
At the end of the video, Goldsmith was in tears. “I’m just really overwhelmed right now, I don’t know what’s going on,” she said.
#19 When in Rome?
Image source: influencersinthewild
A young woman was filmed engaging in inappropriate behavior with a statue of Bacchus in Florence, Italy. Italian officials are attempting to identify her and have expressed outrage over the incident. If identified, she could face fines and a potential lifetime ban from the city. The statue is a replica of a 16th-century work by Giambologna.
#20 I think I might start The FAFO Awards
Image source: influencersinthewild
Alena Agafonova, a 23-year-old Russian influencer, was reportedly imprisoned and sentenced to 10 months of labor for “tickling the breast” of a famous war statue.
Additionally, she has been banned from using social media for two years.
#21 Was she watching old Seinfeld episodes??
Image source: influencersinthewild
TikTok star Katie Sigmond faces criminal charges for hitting a golf ball into the Grand Canyon.
The now-viral video of the incident shows that when Sigmond swung to hit the ball, part of the club went flying.
The national park addressed the video from its Facebook page saying, “Do we really need to say, ‘don’t hit golf balls into the Grand Canyon?’"
#22 Putting on a show for people who do not care at all
Image source: influencersinthewild
Miami real estate broker Daniela Rendon, 31, used $381,000 in Covid relief funds for luxurious personal purchases like a Bentley and cosmetic procedures.
She has now been sentenced to 3.5 years in prison and fined $198,990 for wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft.
#23 How do you say “No” in Italian? A British woman has been charged with "obscene acts" for taking her clothes off for a photo shoot in front of Italy’s cathedral of Amalfi. Locals captured the incident on video and can be heard calling the tourists "crazy” for being “naked at the church.”
Image source: influencersinthewild
#24
Image source: influencersinthewild
#25 The US Olympic Committee has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Logan Paul’s Prime hydration drink brand days before the 2024 Paris Olympics. The lawsuit alleges that Prime used Olympic-related phrases without permission, potentially misleading the public and profiting from an unauthorized association with the Olympics.
Image source: influencersinthewildDE
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Demilked Editorial
SaaS Review Specialist · Demilked
With 5+ years in the creator, entertainment, and publishing spaces, Demilked shortlists, reviews, and ranks leading tools that actually make your life easier.