A social media influencer has been making waves in Siargao, but not the fun kind.
Lance de Ocampo, who on his Instagram bio describes himself as a “content creator,” apologized yesterday for his defense of social media influencers in a recent Instagram Stories post.
His defense was an answer to the White Banana Beach Club’s viral post that threw shade on wannabe “influencers” who just want to get free stuff.
De Ocampo said in his Instagram Stories on Tuesday that “social media influencers or Instagram influencers have big contributions to boost Siargao’s tourism.”
“Siargao will not be as appreciated as it is now if not of (sic) the so-called influencers’ breathtaking photos and well curated INSTAGRAM photos,” he said.
He apologized after receiving backlash but said in another Instagram Stories post that his remarks were misinterpreted and taken out of context.
“I would like to apologize for my opinion that sparked misinterpretation and conflict on what influencers do in general. I know that being an ‘influencer’ will always come with privilege and I acknowledge that. Whatever I say online will always reach a lot of audiences and I apologize for sounding ‘entitled’ which wasn’t my intention at all,” he said.
De Ocampo, however, did not feel the need to apologize to the beach club and said they made a hasty generalization about influencers.
“I felt strongly offended about their statement. I didn’t message that beach club for any kind of collaboration,” he said.
He also reiterated his belief that social media contributes to Siargao’s growing popularity.
READ: Siargao beach club throws shade at freeloading ‘self-proclaimed influencers’
But it was a little too late for him to backtrack because a lot of people were already angered by his statement, including local celebrities such as actress Bela Padilla and TV host Bianca Gonzalez.
While none of them dropped names, it was clear that their tweets were directed at De Ocampo.
“It’s soooo sad that you felt the need to take credit for a place so beautiful to begin with and would be perfectly fine with or without you. Tsk tsk. Btw, we all started going to Siargao three years ago NOT because of your posts,” Padilla said in a tweet posted last night.
https://twitter.com/padillabela/status/1111238256509673472
Meanwhile, Gonzalez said: “All of us, regardless of follower count, have influence with people around us, for sure. But it should never be a license to feel entitled to demand to be given free things.”
The word "influencer" is thrown a lot around these days. All of us, regardless of follower count, have influence with people around us, for sure. But it should never be a license to feel entitled to demand to be given free things.
— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) March 28, 2019
By the way, this isn't shade. This is a reminder for all of us who might at times feel entitled to demand because of this new social media "influencer" culture.
— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) March 28, 2019
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