The Instagram Influencers are NOT OKAY. I actually expected the Instagram models, the influencers and the “famous on the internet” people to go absolutely crazy during the pandemic, but it hasn’t been too bad – the Instagram models are, for the most part, simply trying to navigate the realities of new digital economy/recession, and the dumbass “famous on the internet” people are licking toilets. But what of the influencers who built their often-wholesome, aspirational-family brand on social media to great profit? Take Arielle Charnas, an influencer and founder of Something Navy. Charnas tested positive for the virus on or around March 18th, when she filmed herself taking a test in one of those drive-up testing facilities in New York City. Just days after she tested positive for the virus, she traveled to her Hamptons home, where she continued to post cutesy Tik Toks and Instagrams. Now she’s “apologizing.”
Instagram influencer and Something Navy founder Arielle Charnas is tearfully apologizing to fans after receiving a lot of backlash for her response to testing positive for coronavirus. The fashion and lifestyle blogger has been the subject of tons of criticism from people around the world ever since she shared a video of herself getting tested while sitting in her car in New York City. Arielle tested positive for the virus on March 18 and within days, she was posting TikTok videos with her family and sharing photos from her home in the Hamptons. She was called out by people for her “privilege” and not self-quarantining for the 14 days after testing positive.
In a series of Instagram Stories posted on Thursday (April 2), Arielle tearfully said that she and her family are “not bad people” and that she “never in a million years wanted to hurt anyone.” Arielle also wrote a long statement, which was posted to her Instagram account.
“I am not writing this to make excuses and I am not searching for validation; I want to share the truth behind the story and above all else, express my sincerest remorse,” Arielle said. “I apologize to anyone that I unintentionally harmed in the course of my decision-making. I completely acknowledge I made mistakes throughout this process. I followed all of our doctor’s recommendations to a tee, which were also the recommendations put forth by the CDC.”
Arielle said that her family’s symptoms had improved by the time they traveled to the Hamptons and that everyone was without a fever for 72 hours. “We have since taken every measure to ensure we [do] not and will not come into further contact, six feet apart or otherwise, with any other individual for the foreseeable future. Based on the facts available to us right now, as well as throughout our experience in the last several weeks, I’m confident this was the right move to reduce potential spread.”
“Through all of this, I’ve learned that the reality of the career and life path I’ve chosen for myself comes with a powerful responsibility. In times of crisis, opening up about every aspect of your life is hard. We all make mistakes, including me, especially when a crisis such as this is developing so quickly. My family and I are truly sorry to those we have offended for not appearing to be taking this crisis gravely seriously, and we are committed to making informed, responsible decisions moving forward.”
“I am not searching for validation,” says the Instagram influencer who peddles glossy family inspo in the middle of a global pandemic after she tested positive for a deadly virus. I watched her IG Stories apology too and bitch can’t act worth a damn either. Her fake-crying is actually offensive. What’s also notable is that local leaders in the Hamptons have been trying for weeks to get Gov. Cuomo to issue travel bans to the Hamptons, because those beach communities’ medical resources will also be under significant strain if there’s a massive viral outbreak in their sunny paradise. It’s been all over the news – New Yorkers should not go to their Hamptons beach houses at this time, especially not if they’ve already tested positive. Quarantine in place for 14 days, for the love of God, don’t pack up your sh-t and go to the beach.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Please know that our partnership with Arielle Charnas ended in 2019.
— Nordstrom (@Nordstrom) April 2, 2020
Photos courtesy of Instagram.
Maybe after all this is over, people will realize that they don’t need to be influenced by these “influencers” at all. They certainly come up with a lot of idiotic things to say and do. The fact that they are still making money while so many are suffering in the crashing economy drives me bananas.
I’ve unfollowed just about all the influencers except for one or two who I really really like their personalities and stuff they share with us. I am not buying anything they’re shilling, I’m irritated with their “content” and I’m just over it.
As a blogger and “influencer” myself, I just want to share my perspective – I live in Baltimore where we have a really nice community of influencers and we all talk to each other. As things started coming to a head, we all struggled with how to respond and whether or not to keep creating content. For the most part, we’re all trying to share education and social distancing tips, but I have also been interspersing that with other things. I did an art/nature shoot with a photographer right before social distancing started; I posted those. I’ve been supporting a local skincare company. I’ve been supporting a handbag company I love that’s minority- and woman-owned. Yes I’ve been posting less, but my “brand” is just me, my life, my personality, and fashion and photography is how I express myself. I’m privileged to work a full-time job that’s busier now than before (health tech marketing) so I haven’t had time to do any in-home shoots after 3 weeks of 12 hr work days, but I will this weekend. I’m going to be promoting my favorite local plant company that delivered a new Monstera deliciosa to my doorstep. I’m shooting paid content for a streaming app with shows I like. And I’ll be sharing some fun outfits for a few other brands I’m working on too. Yes, the health crisis is serious and being terribly managed by cheeto man, but I can’t talk about social distancing and donating money to orgs making PPEs, and how I feel about COVID-19 all the time. I would go crazy. Wouldn’t we all? Isn’t that why we’re all reading THIS blog – for some fun, inspiration, and a break from reality?
@vanessa I get that! I do really enjoy some influencer’s accounts. I know some of you really work hard to bring interesting things to your platform.
I mainly unfollowed the ones that are all the same and are just doing try on sessions for “date night out” “work” and “weddings” right now when everything. EVERYTHING is being canceled. And have been bee-bopping around towns without care for the social distancing measures.
“…. express my sincerest remorse,” Arielle said. “I apologize to anyone that I unintentionally harmed in the course of my decision-making…”
Uhm, yeah.. good. That’ll be a huge comfort to the families of those who have gotten sick, or who are burying their family member(s) if they caught it from you. SO glad you feel “remorse”.
F*@K these entitled twats!
Eff these people – I’m so fed up with all the desperate celebrities right now, they are showing the world how useless they truly are. I hope we learn the lesson and give our attention and money to those who are actually useful.
To be fair, at least in my state, people are cleared to go back into society by the health department after they don’t have “extreme symptoms” for 72 hours: fever, cough, etc. She still shouldn’t have traveled to the Hamptons, but for overprivileged undereducated people, I could see why the health department saying “okay you’re good to go outside” meant “traveling is fine”, when they are NOT the same thing. ESPECIALLY not there in New York!
What state is this? Its recommendation seems counter to what so many other authorities have said, and relies on a subjective observation not an objective number of days.
The concern is that people who aren’t that sick can still be infectious. Even a mask only somewhat reduces their ability to spread the virus, and most masks aren’t medical or are improperly fitted. And infectious people also touch things.
All these partial measures are aimed at short term economic interests because a government and businesses aren’t willing to support people with longterm interest and preserving life in mind. And in the US in many areas, a functional healthcare system has not been the priority.
that is supremely bad advice
while people have been approved to go out 2 weeks after initiation of symptoms, provided you’ve been symptom free for at least 3 days in a row, you really should wait at least 3 weeks after start of symptoms to be sure you’re no longer contagious
Where is that? Remind me not to go there.
This just reminded me…has anyone checked in with Vanessa Hudgens is doing?
They could both get together to commiserate.
SO MANY influencers are doing this right now. Taza, Inspiralized, The Home Edit…even the NYT did a story on it. The attitude of “I made this difficult decision to flout CDC guidelines and state issued stay at home orders to do what’s best for my family and no one else” is criminal.
It’s so gross. Taza particularity annoyed me because her whole brand is “raising my little New Yorkers!” But as soon as things get tough in NYC, they flounce.
I mean, their giant Manhattan luxury apartments don’t even have backyards! Won’t somebody think of the influencers?!
and celebrities – John Mayer and Justin Timberlake are both hiding out in Montana right now. At least Mayer is making a donation of ventilators to the rural hospital he’s near.
That’s in Mayer’s self interest. He could donate from afar. They should all donate from afar.
After getting through this I hope that we as a society can look at who we give our attention and money to. I know it’s ironic because I’m writing this on a celebrity gossip site, but I really hope that the doctors and nurses, grocery store clerks and people who are actually helping when shit is hitting the fan get our love and adoration from now on. And also that we start to question what exactly it is that we are aspiring to.
And that the worship of celebrity/materialistic/influencer culture comes to an end. We’ve seen the true heroes and not the people that are taking pictures of themselves on their yacht and private jet to show their “self isolation”
@Hanahk – I agree with you. It’s been a long time coming, but society was overdue for an “overhaul.” This event will change the way we view our world, because it literally has affected every one of us, some to a larger degree than others. For those who possess good critical thinking skills it will be a trigger for self-reflection and re-evaluation of how we live in its aftermath.
What colossal bad judgement. As a nurse I am sure she was told to stay home and isolate. She was fortunate enough to be tested. Why bother testing if you won’t follow instructions?
She actually didn’t get tested in a drive-thru facility. She called one of her doctor friends and they allowed her to get tested outside, but were not offering that to anyone else at the time nor were tests available for many ppl in NYC. And mind you she did all of this after saying she didn’t qualify for testing at the time because she didn’t meet the criteria. That was the first thing ppl were getting upset about.
Exactly…she got tested hours after putting up a story where she said that while she felt ill, she was told she didn’t meet criteria used to determine testing and was told to voluntarily self-isolate. Instead, she left her apartment, had a doctor friend test her in the car, then claimed she felt “perfect” and left for the Hamptons 10 days later. Oh, and her a-hole husband spent the 10 days arguing and mocking people who called her out in the comments. I really hope this is the end of the Charnas’, I can’t stand them or the blind, smug bubble they live in.
Exactly. This was not the full story at all. Her husband also really damaged the brand with his terrible behavior when they started taking on a lot of negative press. I think they very well may be the definition of bad people.
People in her comments on IG are saying to “ignore the haters” and she “did what was best for her family” so we clearly have a long way to go. None of these people get it.
The people who follow these Instagram people and “influencers” are people who buy into the mindset. Unfortunately most wont learn a thing except “haters hate”. Disgusting. And her doctor friend should penalized for that rich people test bs.
Yes, penalize these doctors who are catering to their entitled friends and taking a test away from some ill person who really needs one. Sheesh.
Does she have size 16 feet like Peggy Hill? In both pics they look enormous. Just sayin’.
Lmoa!
omg! that’s so funny
Yeah, her feet look huge . And I say this as someone with size 9 feet that stopped growing when I was 12 years old. Maybe it’s just the camera angle or the big , stylish clod hoppers she’s wearing 🙂
I’ve never heard of this idiot before, and I wish that hadn’t changed! I’m glad her family has recovered, but they clearly didn’t follow instructions, and went to an area that is not able to handle this crazy influx of people right now. Shame on them.
I’ve never heard of her. But def a punchable face.
The problem with sying “I hope to die horribly” to selfish people like this, is that they won’t. If given a choice the Drs will save the you g over the old as they have a better chance of survival. I’m not sure I’m going to come out of this with my sanity intact. .
Ok this is mean. But is there any way to hold her financially responsible. Spoiled entitled people often pay attention to nothing else. For example, on a sliding scale based on ability to pay she should have to pay Trump market rate for ventilators and protective equipment for the Hamptons. There should also be a presumption that she and every one of her family infected one person each. They should have to pay icu level costs for one person each so that no one who has to struggle has a medical bill that will take years to pay. Eff her and her apology.
I mean, Sarah Jessica Parker is getting pap’d out in the Hamptons too. A lot of celebs left the city.
The difference is that most of them are smart enough to be low key about it. Influencers need the constant validation.
Ugh I’ve followed her for a while now and I’m not even sure why I do…. she is completely unrelatable and incredibly tone deaf. The doctor she got her test through is Brian Atwood’s partner, who seems to have an unquenchable thirst. Her “apology” is nothing more than a carefully worded PR statement that still admits to nothing. I would maybe have some respect for her if she actually said she was wrong. Additionally, her husband needs to man up and apologize to the fans he called losers and told them to get a life. He’s so thirsty it actually makes me cringe. My parents live in the Hamptons and I’m scared for their wellbeing; the hospitals are small and not well-equipped for this influx for entitled assholes who can’t stay home.
I think her doctor friend should have to be board reviewed for this with an annotation attached to their licence stating same. Would like to see volunteer hours relieving overworked medicals from him, where he pays for his own protective equipment, plus has to donate more. Jerk
Despicable! This should be a crime. She risked people’s lives. Wow wow I have no words. How selfish of her
Hope she loses a ton of followers and actually has to sit down and weigh whether or not to do cam stuff like the rest of us poors during these trying times.
(I don’t actually want people to lose their livelihoods but these influencers really make me crotchety that I can’t do the same) lol
Useless apology unless she turns around and takes herself right back to NYC where she belongs.
Unfollow the selfish people like this and that will teach them that their stupidity will end their career.
Exactly. That’s the only way. Unfollow and ignore.
Completely irresponsible and selfish. Nevermind the risk of anyone she could’ve come in contact with outside of her home in NYC, should she need additional medical attention, she is putting added strain on the small hospitals in the Hamptons. She is consistently tone deaf and completely oblivious of her privilege. She couldn’t even admit that it was privilege enough to receive a test within hours of request because you know, she has doctor friends on speed dial. However, nobody deserves death threats. But yeah, she’s pretty much cancelled for me.
A lot of people left the city right away when things seemed to get serious so not sure you can blame all of them (this influencer lady though was totally irresponsible since she traveled AFTER testing positive). My parents drove into the city to drag my sister out of her apartment in Brooklyn when things started first getting serious because my mom was adamant she was not going to weather the quarantine on her own for weeks on end (this was 3 weeks ago). Her two other roommates also left to be with their families outside the city. Pretty much everyone I know who could get out of the city to live with family in the suburbs did just that. And typically my mom works in Boston Monday-Thursday at her apartment but she ended up taking an earlier train to get back to Connecticut to be with us at her “main” residence as Boston is not her full time residence.
But for the coastal communities like the Hamptons on Long Island and Block Island off of Rhode Island, I understand wanting to limit the out of town people since their medical centers are much smaller and have less staff and they have less amenities like grocery stores, gas stations, and pharmacies. They were trying to cancel the ferry coming and going from Block Island according to media reports because the island has ONE doctor and if an outbreak were to happen there it would be disastrous. It’s the same for places like Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
If someone is called an influencer, I automatically can’t stand them.
SO selfish. I can’t imagine being this self-centred.
If I owned a house in the Hamptons, why would I not go there? It’s my house!!
It’s actually a rental home in this specific case and she’s also posted that they had someone come in and install internet since getting to the house.
There’s also the issue that she infected one of their nannies and has basically had the “very loved and important family member” still working this entire time! There’s a very interesting twitter thread going around where they look at the timeline and dissect her stories and behavior. The lack of self awareness or responsibility at every stage is frightening!
@Rachel. People were asked to stay at their primary residence to avoid overwhelming the system. Even after that went out after being diagnosed. She is selfish trash
Failing to recognize the privilege in such a “problem” IS the problem.
Because you’re putting other people at risk. I live in a small beach community and people from other states came here at first. We don’t have the medical facilities to handle a large outbreak. If several of you come from an infected area here, you could be a carrier and expose us. And most of the locals here are poor and don’t have a second home we can run away to if you bring it here.
Rachel: how about because it’s a pandemic and you could kill people? Does that answer your question?
I think the governor of Rhode Island was blocking people New York from coming in. Or people with NY plates were being told to quarantine for 14 days. All to protect the small state and not risk the possibility of overloading the hospitals and clinics that are nowhere near the size of the hospitals in NYC. Then Cuomo threatened to sue.
It is time to companies like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook start to cancel accounts of influencers like her whose actions can affect people. That is worse is people defending them, cant understand the severe of he worldwide situation. The same in others countries, privileged stupid people not following recommendations to avoid spread the virus in the middle of a pandemic. Good some are calling her out and let companies associates to her know her behavior to end the partnership, the best punishment the social media cancel and the lost of sponsors.
lily- You make an excellent point about these sites canceling them. Wouldn’t their actions be considered in violation of the “Terms of Agreement” or something? You know, the conditions that are included in all the small print you have to read before signing up on one of these sites?
soooo she went looking for hamptons homes with my real estate agent after taking that test! he has a NEBORN BABY! she should LOSE ALL HER ENDORSEMENTS
OMG THAT IS AWFUL! What a scumbag!
Where the heck is Victoria??
Arielle, her husband, and Arielle’s family have always been problematic. I’ve stopped following her long ago.
So she felt sick (she’s always been a hypochondriac, so you just knew she was gonna get tested). She calls up her friend, aka Brian Atwood’s husband, who administers a test for her. A service he’s not providing anyone else. People call her out, then she says she won’t be talking about it anymore. Then later she says she tested positive. They then move to a rental property in the Hamptons. And she posts pics of her walking outside in the neighborhood, doing tik tok dances with her husband, kissing and playing with her kids, etc. She didn’t bother to isolate her family or even from her family. If I tested positive, I wouldn’t be giving my kids smooches. Some followers said she went back into the city cause they didn’t pack enough. So if that’s true, they kept exposing the people in her building. I’ll have to text my friend, who lives in the building, to see if she’s ok. She making her nanny work, even whilst the nanny supposedly has covid as well. They also got wifi installed, so they exposed the cable guy as well. When people asked her to donate plasma, she said she couldn’t cause she’s following the guidelines and it hasn’t been 14 days yet. So I guess she’ll follow that guideline, but not the isolate yourself guideline. Before she got sick, she threw her daughter a birthday party at the ice cream museum even though parties were being discouraged at the time. And her husband joked that only “attractive people get coronavirus.” He also called people who were questioning their timeline “losers” and attacked a nurse as well as insulting someone’s school (Cornell) as a safety school. These people are the worst.
There’s a blogger, who I don’t follow and never heard of, so I can’t recall her name, who thought it was ok to fly to Santa Barbara because they flew private. Another thought it was cool to leave NYC cause her children needed more space. 🙄
But I have to say, not all influencers are like that. The ones I know personally and others that I follow on Instagram, are actually taking it seriously and haven’t left the house except for essential errands – ie the groceries or dropping off supplies to the elderly. Haven’t relocated to another remote location. Haven’t been selfish. Haven’t been flaunting the health recommendations cause they think they’re special and above everyone else.
I can’t figure out if the instagramers who are posting things they shouldn’t be doing, are dumb or just want attention. But sadly there are a number of commenters who think they are doing the right thing by putting their family above everyone else, which makes me so mad I want to pull my hair out. I guarantee these are also the ones out there hoarding supplies.
Meh. I’m not a big fan of the Hamptons or the people who live there. But yeah, she shouldn’t be out and about if she’s positive.
I doubt some of these influencers or celebs were actually infected by covid. They are using the virus as a badge for attention. An hospital colleague told me some d-list, super minor celeb told everyone on his vlog he tested positive for covid but my friend says it was pneumonitis.
There’s a ton of speculation she lied about her positive test results. Anything for attention.
I must be getting old because not only do I not know who these “influencers” are, I think it’s asinine that they can influence anyone to do anything. Get a real job…and get off my lawn!
A LOT of New Yorkers are leaving and crossing the border to their summer homes in Rhode Island. Governor Raimondo is not having it. She’s mandated that if you come in from other states you must self contain for 14 days. Cuomo had the nerve to say she wasn’t being very neighborly. I say f you. People need to stay in their homes in self isolation. I’m betting if the shoe was in the other foot he’d be saying the same things.
I hope this starts the decline of the age of influencers. I’ve noticed many who are posting normal outfits and whatnot have turned their comments off. The appetite for consumerism or an out of touch, privileged, aspirational life just isn’t there anymore in this new world