Model and influencer Haley “Baylee” Kalil has issued an apology after facing backlash for a TikTok video she posted of herself lip syncing to the alleged Marie Antoinette quote “let them eat cake” shortly after the Met Gala. The video, which has garnered over 21.6 million views and 3.6 million likes, has been criticized by users for being insensitive, especially as pro-Palestinian protestors were outside the gala. Kalil clarified that she was not invited to the Met Gala and was only a pre-Met Gala host for E! News, conducting interviews and creating content outside a designated hotel.
The TikTok video has sparked outrage among users, with some expressing their anger and disappointment towards Kalil for posting the video. Another user’s video, with over four million views, suggested that Kalil’s video may have incited the rage of many people. The infamous quote “let them eat cake,” attributed to Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution, has long been associated with elitism and disregard for the impoverished. While historians have questioned the veracity of the quote, Antoinette was ultimately executed for crimes against the state.
In her apology video, Kalil explained that a designer friend had made her dress for free, and she did not choose the “Marie Antoinette” film audio deliberately to highlight elitism, as she felt she was not elite enough to be invited to the Met Gala. She expressed regret for using the audio and acknowledged her lack of awareness about the situation in Gaza. Despite her attempt to clarify and apologize, Kalil’s video faced continued criticism from thousands of users, with some drawing parallels to dystopian fiction such as “The Hunger Games.”
Kalil’s involvement in the online movement known as the “celebrity blockout” or the “digital guillotine” has further exacerbated the situation. Started by TikTok user Blockout2024, the movement encourages people to block celebrities, particularly those who attended the recent Met Gala, on social media platforms to diminish their engagement and ad revenue. The idea behind blocking celebrities is to reduce the amount of money they earn from ads on social platforms, as engagement is directly linked to revenue. Kalil, along with other high-profile figures, has been added to multiple block lists, with users criticizing her for not using her platform to address pressing issues while people suffer.
The impact of the “blockout” movement on influencers’ ad revenue remains uncertain. As more users participate in blocking celebrities on social media, the potential financial consequences for influencers and celebrities who rely on engagement for ad revenue could become more pronounced. The growing backlash against Kalil and the emergence of the blockout movement highlight the power of social media users to hold public figures accountable for their actions and statements. The incident serves as a cautionary tale for influencers and celebrities regarding the importance of social awareness and responsible behavior in the digital age.
