Thread by @KarenAttiah

So a few thoughts about this @MDLBeast festival, Saudi Arabia's regime, and influencer culture...

A ton of models, mini-celebrities and and social media influencers were paid (A LOT) to be flown out to Saudi Arabia and post a few pictures of the @MDLBeast festival. Including Jourdan Dunn, Halima Aden (@Kinglimaa) and Negin Mirsalehi, just to name a few.

Props to the anonymous but AWESOME IG account @diet_prada for calling out the influencers and their agents for agreeing to use their image to help whitewash (socialwash?) the Saudi regime.

According to diet_prada, models and influencers were offered in the 6 figures to go to Saudi Arabia and post Instagram pics of the festival.

One model who was invited to @MDLBeast declined the invitation. The organizers offered to double the rate. The model still said no.

The social changes in Saudi Arabia are indeed remarkable.

Jamal khashoggi was supportive of the changes. Until regime agents killed him.

Now the regime has been working overtime and spending billions to try to rehabilitate its image, partly by using western influencers.

A year ago, I was invited to be on stage at @glamourmag’s Women of the Year summit to talk about journalism, and the hellish ordeal of dealing with Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. I did my best to pour my heart out onto that stage.

https://twitter.com/glamourmag/status/1061759476506578945?s=20

https://twitter.com/glamourmag/status/1061759476506578945

A year later, I come to see that @CondeNast’s @GlamourMagUK has accepted a paid social media sponsorship with Saudi Arabia’s @MDLBeast festival on Instagram.

I don’t really have the words.

The dark side of influencer culture is that it really is the ultimate expression of capitalism.

Money over human lives.

What good is your platform if you overlook Saudi regime’s murder and torture for a few bucks?

These influencers are just for-hire human billboards.

I, along with activists and journalists have been living for the past year with risk and intimidation for daring to speak out about Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, Mohammed bin Salman and the abuses under his watch.

For @GlamourMagUK to take money from KSA.. it’s a slap in the face.

The money and resources that influencers and @GlamourMagUK take from Saudi Arabia.. same money and resources that go towards bots and trolls that attack and harass anyone online that criticize Saudi Arabia.

Jamal Khashoggi used to call them “flies”

It’s all propaganda.

Would love to hear from @CondeNast and @GlamourMagUK on this, but they seem to have turned off Instagram comments.

@CondeNast @GlamourMagUK Saudi Arabia's regime has faced no significant international consequences for:

-Bombing the daylights out of Yemen
-Imprisoning/torturing women who campaigned for the right to drive
-Cutting off diplomatic relations with Canada because of a few tweets
-Jamal Khashoggi's murder

@CondeNast @GlamourMagUK So these influencers and media outlets (too many to tag) who use their platforms to claim they are for women's empowerment and social justice --- but yet also take money to promote Saudi Arabia..

Insta-hypocrites. It's all so transparent and gross.

@CondeNast @GlamourMagUK I'm rooting for the Saudi people, from all walks of life -- that they one day will enjoy more than just driving and concerts, but more freedoms and economic prosperity.

Jamal Khashoggi said, Saudis deserve better.

So does Yemen. And jailed activists like @LoujainHathloul.

Also, while the paid influencers were chilling in VIP at @MDLBeast in Saudi Arabia, women who were in the general section are reporting being groped, harassed and assaulted by men in the crowds.

Check @diet_prada’s IG story for more

Groping and assault of women are a problem at concerts and music festivals worldwide.

But in Saudi Arabia’s @MDLBeast, a chunk of the money that went to western celebs and influencers to market this could have been better spent on safety and legal measures to protect women. 🤷🏾‍♀️