Singaporean influencer platform SgInstaBabes shuts down Instagram account after criticism for Patreon campaign
Singaporean network of influencers SgInstaBabes has seemingly closed its doors, or at least on social media, after coming under criticism as a campaign on Patreon, which encourages subscriptions for access to the influencers.
SgInstaBabes has come under criticism for objectifying women
Singapore media outlets and comments on social media, have questioned the scheme, which asks fans to subscribe monthly amounts in order to get to certain levels of access. At the higher end of the scale, people can subscribe to hang out with the girls on yacht parties.
The campaign uses platform Patreon, which aims to help creators earn sustainable salaries from subscriptions, rather than relying on revenue from brands. The campaign is still live and has 86 subscribers at the time of writing.
For example, a call to action on the campaign site says ‘We'll be releasing the full album of Priscillia, Jasmine, Annabelle and Vivian's nightie shoot for September. Subscribe to our $10 tier or above by 31 August to get access to this album!’
The founder of SgInstaBabes, Lai Wee Kiat, has come out on social media to defend the move. The original post has now been taken down but media organisations are reprinting the quote. His Instagram count has also seemingly been taken down.
He says, “ I get accused of objectifying women but I see that in fact, many of you WANT to objectify women for your own amusement. Women can’t be themselves because of the fear that social media will pervert even the most innocent things they do. Why can’t you all let women dress however they want and do whatever they want as long as it doesn’t mess with you or the law? And please don’t say, “It’s the Internet, it’s my right to say whatever I want”. Yea, you could, but do you know how it affects others?
My team and I aren’t trying to objectify women. When I started SgInstaBabes, it was to bring out the vibrancy and the beauty of girls in Singapore, and yes, sometimes being sexy and cheeky too. When I started our Patreon, it was to give a chance to our followers to be more involved in our activities and to fund us. We share more photos, we organize photo shoots and we party. And we’re thankful for all our subscribers, not think that we’re so great and they should feel privileged to join us. That’s it. Anything beyond that is your assumption and extrapolation. Unfortunately, I see that our innocent intentions are being perverted, just like how the dark web would.”
The influencers have in the past worked with major brands but, after a series of issues, they decided to come back under this new business model.
Singapore hasn’t been short of influencer scandals this year, as photographer influencer Daryl Aiden Yow was caught doctoring photos for locations he hadn’t been to as part of a campaign for Sony cameras.