White influencers need to stop making the BLM protests about their Instagrams

One thing you can always count on in life is white influencers turning any situation into a chance to rack up the Instagram likes. And turns out some influencers see the Black Lives Matter protests as the perfect opportunity to get some Insta clout.

Tone-deaf doesn’t seem like a strong enough word for the videos and pictures of influencers posing by the protests. Whilst all 50 American states and 18 countries protest to seek justice for George Floyd, the influencers have been seen pretending to fix shops, pose in front of burning cars and deliberately getting arrested. The white privilege is deafening.

Twitter account Influencers In The Wild and others have been sharing videos of these influencers using the protests as an opportunity to seem “woke” when we all know they’re just after those discount codes.

Take a look at some of the dumbest tone deaf moments from influencers during the protests so far:

https://twitter.com/influencersitw/status/1267602725266743298

Yoga pants? Starring at a smashed up T-Mobile store? Must be an influencer.

https://twitter.com/goodgalbadrep/status/1266917529252966402

Ladies, this is not Coachella. Stop your performative bullshit and donate.

https://twitter.com/NEGROSEOUL/status/1267868870888566784

Smiling and strutting whilst getting led away by the police after getting arrested. Screams of white privilege.

https://twitter.com/influencersitw/status/1267615651910254592

This is not an “insta moment”.

https://twitter.com/influencersitw/status/1267627931154747392

I actually have no words for this.

https://twitter.com/omgitzdestineex/status/1268087004111175685

Why am I not surprised?

Most Read

Gone but not forgotten: Honouring the 13 Glee cast members who have passed away

40 years later, one of the Unsolved Mysteries cold cases has just been solved

Monster’s lead star explains why Aileen Wuornos was clumsily shoved into Lizzie Borden show

https://twitter.com/influencersitw/status/1267895298900332546

What is honestly going on with influencers????

This is neither the time nor the place pic.twitter.com/EMyXcx3oUB

— influencersinthewild (@influencersitw) June 2, 2020

This is not what the protests are about.

How to donate and support the Black Lives Matter movement:

Reclaim The Block – is an organisation focused on moving money from the police department in Minneapolis into other areas of the city’s budget that truly promote community health and safety – donate here.

Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust – works with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds aged 13 to 30 to inspire and enable them to succeed in the career of their choice – donate here.

To sign the justice for Belly Mujinga petition sign here.

To sign the justice for Breonna Taylor petition sign here.

Featured image credit: Max Bender on Unsplash

Related stories recommended by this writer:

•These are the celebs attending the Black Lives Matter protests

•Outrage over social distancing at BLM protests but not VE day proves the UK is racist

•PSA: Your performative activism and Instagram chains aren’t helping anyone