A TikTok influencer with over 600,000 followers has had enough of her fans’ behavior. Gabrielle Emerson took to her page to share how challenging seemingly innocuous activities, like going to Walmart, have become for her. Sitting in her car, she described how “dehumanizing” it feels to have people record her while she is simply trying to go about her day.
Britney Spears has complained about it, Ben Affleck has even pushed for laws surrounding it — and now, after musicians and actors, influencers are the latest group of entertainers questioning whether people should treat them with more consideration.
Emerson said she was particularly taken aback by the experience because she could actually hear the teenagers who recorded her saying, “That’s her,” followed by the sound of their phone recording. She also emphasized that she does not view herself as some sort of celebrity.
@gabrielle.emerson_ Sorry for saying “like” so many times I had an actual anxiety attack mid recording this video #influencer #stalker #teens #meangirls #anxiety
♬ original sound – gabrielle.emerson_
She got famous by mistake
Many users in her comment section sympathized with her experience. One person wrote, “People have gotten way too comfortable doing things in public and saying things online that just 15 years ago would’ve never been even remotely acceptable. What’s happening to us???”
Another added, “Omg I totally understand like seeing ppl obviously judge you and stare cause ur just there like sorry im breathing the same air as you like what I don’t get it’s so dehumanizing like what I do gang.”
Emerson’s surprise at her new reality is not entirely unexpected, considering she only recently became popular on the platform after a series of posts about her hair went viral. Her first major post was about a bleaching attempt that severely damaged her hair.
The story eventually went on to be covered by several major publications and even caught the attention of celebrity hairstylist Brad Mondo, who has worked with major names like Vanessa Hudgens. Mondo personally offered Emerson advice to help her restore her damaged hair.
Emerson then began documenting her recovery process, and with each post, she gained thousands of reactions and new followers. Her journey temporarily earned her the unfortunate nickname “dead hair girl” as she experimented with different hairstyles, including a bold “big chop,” hair mask routines, and eventually got her hair back to where she started.
Some people have always been making fun of her
However, as one can imagine, there were also groups of followers who spent the entire journey making fun of her. There have been countless stories of people making major mistakes with their hairstyles, and those situations often become the internet’s joke of the week. But unlike many others, Emerson was able to turn her experience into an actual career.
Another user argued that the issue was more about the teenagers than Emerson herself. The commenter wrote, “Queen, I used to see you at Walmart all the time and went on with my day. Some people just genuinely have nothing better to do.”
According to her Instagram, Emerson is currently studying marketing at Abilene Christian University. So, based on everything she has built so far, it appears she is only getting started. Hopefully, she will continue figuring out how to navigate life in the public eye.
