Not many people know what it feels like to have their own catchphrase shouted at them when they walk the streets of Liverpool, however, TikTok sensation James Foley does.
The 23-year-old, like the rest of us, first started using the social media app during lockdown as a way of passing time. But, unlike the rest of us, James’ following and like count started to rise at an unexpected pace.
After a video of James bad mouthing a phone repair shop in the city centre took the internet by storm, it wasn’t long before he went viral again and had the entire country shouting his life mantra, “The best part of being in a relationship is the spooning, can’t get enough of it.” Now, any true fan would know when addressed with the catchphrase, the only correct way to respond is by saying “spooning leads to forking.” This is just one of the many phrases synonymous with the former Parklands High School student and his distinctive Scouse accent.
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James told the ECHO : “It's amazing having your own catchphrase with people quoting it like the bible and seeing it on merchandise on your fan is amazing. Going viral is definitely overwhelming with happiness and pride but also feeling horrible as I know hate will eventually come.”
Originally, James “spread positivity” through the video sharing app with his ex-partner Shaun and together they racked up over 268,000 followers and 5.9million likes. However, now separated, James has been navigating the world of influencing alone and it hasn’t come without its challenges.
He added: “I find it really hard to overcome the hate I get over my time on TikTok and also on Instagram but I understand that as a creator, you have to expect hate to come with it. Although we shouldn't have to, I blocked all forms of hate. There have been times where I thought it would be better to come off TikTok for a calmer life but then I thought ‘no why should I stop doing something I enjoy because of other horrible trolls.’”
TikTok announced earlier this year it would be introducing measures to protect its LGBTQ+ community. The social media platform updated its community guidelines noting the company is "adding clarity on the types of hateful ideologies prohibited on our platform." This included banning deadnaming [when someone refers to a transgender person by the name they used before transitioning], misgendering, and misogyny, as well as the promotion of conversion therapy - the discredited practice that aims to stop someone from being LGBTQ+.
Even with this, James thinks more could be done to protect online creators as it is just not TikTok where he has been exposed to online trolls. He initially went viral on Twitter and then Facebook where, he said, he was told to 'throw himself in the River Mersey', he was a 'disgrace to the city and diminished its reputation'. One user even threatened to have his face “smashed in”.
He said: “When I was threatened with violence I wasn't scared to go outdoors because I knew that they were just trolls behind fake accounts trying to make me feel useless, pointless and sad. I try to stay positive with all hateful comments but when I get a lot of hate, it really affects my mental health as I suffer from depression and anxiety.
"I think a lot of my anxiety comes through when I am interacting with so many people. I have really bad depression sometimes but my followers understand that. Trolls are really horrible and I don't understand why or how people would be like that and hurt people.”
Despite all of this, James continues to have a positive outlook in life and wants to share his message of “dreaming big” with the city. He added: “I am the bigger person who always has bigger thoughts and feelings for everybody else. The best part of being on TikTok is sharing happiness, smiles and laughter. It’s a safe space for all the LGBTQ+ community of any age and can help the younger members come out or find their own sexuality.”
James wanted to warn others to proceed with caution before they try making it big on TikTok. He said that while he does appreciate getting recognised in the street, having brand deals and being fangirled over by some of the RuPaul’s Drag Race queens, the influencing lifestyle isn’t going to be liked nor accepted by everyone.
