‘Bad Influencer’ offers a gritty look at clout

Netflix’s “Bad Influencer” is giving all the chaos, clout and glam you’d expect from the influencer world, but honey, with a proper Jozi twist that makes it feel oh-so-local.

From fake designer bags to slang that doesn’t always make sense (“math isn’t matching – it’s giving . . .”), this show dives headfirst into the highs and lows of online fame. And sis, it’s messy in the best way.

At the heart of it: BK Msinga, played by Jo‑Anne Reyneke, is a single mother and fashion designer with major grit. When she can’t make ends meet, she turns to counterfeiting luxury handbags to save up for her neurodivergent son Leo’s specialised schooling needs.

Then there’s Pinky Sithole, portrayed by Cindy Mahlangu, a mid‑level influencer who’s all about the flex, the content and the ‘Gram life until her world collides with BK’s.

Yes, people, there are levels to being an influencer: beginner level, mid-level, and then there’s making it to the top.

Their love-hate energy is everything. One moment, they’re riding high, laughing off the latest scandal; the next, they’re dodging undercover cops or plotting stunts that could land them in jail.

The actors bring serious charisma to their roles, one channelling chaotic superwoman energy, the other mixing brains with audacious street smarts. Together, they’re magnetic. You can’t help but admire them, even when you know the law (and basic common sense) is on thin ice.

Acting‑wise, Reyneke nails the “can‑do, will‑do” energy as BK; she’s tired, on the edge, but still determined to get the life she and her son deserve. Mahlangu as Pinky layers ambition with insecurity; you see the girl chasing likes even when the cost is high.

What makes ‘‘Bad Influencer’’ sing is how it lays out the velvet‑glove façade of influencer culture alongside the raw reality: fake bags, sugar daddy deals, BBL trips to Turkey, and social media tiers (“mid‑influencer”, “millions‑club”).

The series doesn’t shy away from the gritty side of Jozi life.

Hillbrow makes an appearance, not for anything cute, but as a reminder that poverty isn’t glamorised. – IOl