Stripping For Clout: Netflix’s New Korean Reality Show Sparks Public Outrage

Netflix‘s latest reality show, The Influencer, has sparked intense criticism among Korean viewers, who have gone as far as to label it a “national embarrassment.”

The show features 77 social media influencers competing to prove who wields the most influence online, but the methods employed by some participants have left many viewers shocked, uncomfortable, and disheartened.

From the outset, the show’s format seemed designed to provoke, with influencers using various tactics to garner attention and likes. However, many viewers were particularly disturbed by the stark contrast between male and female contestants’ approaches. According to several reviews on different community forums the difference was shocking.

While the men mostly engaged in conversation and shared their achievements, several of the female influencers resorted to provocative actions, including revealing outfits and suggestive dancing, to attract followers.

There is a new TV show on Netflix called The Influencer (2024)

i summarized it for you. pic.twitter.com/rgaM0s6QvO

— gaytree (@realgaytree) August 7, 2024

Honestly, I didn’t even need to get this far into the show. From the introduction round, where they had to introduce themselves and get likes or dislikes based on their Shorts, it already felt like a microcosm of our country’s current situation. The male influencers were sharing the female influencers’ Shorts (in which the women were barely dressed). And just like how men share adult videos, the male influencers all went to watch the female influencers. I kept skipping forward 10 seconds because it was so cringeworthy.

When they did the live streaming competition on ‘The Influencer,’ the men just sat there talking, attracting a bunch of bored people, while the women were all stripping and dancing provocatively. Honestly, it’s just so pathetic.

— Viewer 1

Critics have expressed dismay at the way the show seemingly reduces women’s worth to their physical appearance. The sight of female influencers using such tactics to stay in the competition has led to widespread condemnation, with many calling the show a reflection of deeper societal issues in South Korea.

Wow, ‘The Influencer’… Is this a national embarrassment or what?

Not to mention the men… But even the women… Except for the TikTokers, Risabae, and Cha Hong, the rest are nothing more than adult streamers who rely on stripping…

Isn’t this kind of a national embarrassment? Who thought it was a good idea to make this a Netflix show…?

— Viewer 2

Among the few bright spots, influencers like Risabae and Jinjalmi were praised for building their followings through specific content categories rather than resorting to provocative tactics. However, these moments of genuine appreciation were overshadowed by the pervasive sense that the show had taken a damaging turn, turning what could have been a celebration of creativity into a spectacle of superficiality.

Watching ‘The Influencer’ makes me appreciate Risabae and Jinjeolmi even more…

Among everyone else increasing their followers in such ridiculous ways, these two managed to grow their following using their unique content… It’s really bittersweet and impressive. I just saw a few booty shots, and now I’m feeling a bit disillusioned.

— Viewer 3

Despite the show’s aim to highlight the power of social media, many viewers have instead come away with a sense of disappointment and frustration. You can watch the trailer for The Influencer below.

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