Since the first quarantine, the audience has been in search of content that they, the middle class, can identify with in the midst of this economic crisis.

Their approach to the videos that are trending on social media has changed. Before, the general public appreciated videos that were somehow scenarized, putting in value wealthy people and their fortunes such as The Kardashians. The fact was that before the public wanted to dream, to live this social experiment of having money through celebrities or even influencers who had emerged these last years.

But with the arrival of the virus and the stay-at-the-home-bored-situation consumers who were anxious, losing their jobs, and having to deal with the high cost of life wanted authentic videos, made by people like them, experiencing the same ordeal. In a short period, popular celebrities went out of fashion.

The General Approval wanted people to talk about tricky topics that celebrities or influencers could not do because of their contracts. By taking a side, celebrities could break their image which is the key to their salary, and thus lose their sponsors. By having a smooth political image, they could convert more people to their brand image, making them more popular and elevating socially. The ex-fans hatred of high society began slowly and was accentuated by one big event: the Met Gala.

This gala is supposed to raise money for charity while promoting the world of fashion. Usually, celebrities attend this gala wearing remarkable pieces of fashion that have to fit into a certain theme, and this year was no exception. Haley Baylee, a popular TikTok influencer, was invited as host by a TV channel and posted a video on her social media that unleashed media. In her video the influencer exhibited a dress inspired by Marie-Antoinette, lipsync the word: let them eat the cake. These words which seem insignificant were associated with the Queen who would have pronounced them during the French Revolution, somehow dissociating herself from the rest of the poor population.

In 2024, the average struggling class finds it difficult to accept this video, which clearly distinguishes them from high society, which takes the money of its followers to enrich themselves. Furthermore, it raises concerns about the lack of conscientiousness regarding the world’s situation, despite making videos that are watched by millions of people. In a certain way, are customers the sacrificial lambs?