Model and influencer Haley “Baylee” Kalil has issued an apology after facing backlash for posting a video on TikTok in which she was lip-syncing to the infamous alleged Marie Antoinette quote “let them eat cake” shortly after the Met Gala. The video, now with over 21.6 million views and 3.6 million likes, led to criticism from users who accused Kalil of being insensitive, especially given the presence of pro-Palestinian protestors outside the gala.
The video went viral on TikTok, with hundreds of users sharing and criticizing Kalil for appearing in a lavish gown near the pricey and star-studded event. Another user posted a video that garnered over four million views, suggesting that Kalil’s video may have ignited anger among millions of people. The quote “let them eat cake” is often attributed to Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution as a symbol of her detachment from the suffering of the poor. However, there is some debate among historians regarding the accuracy of this quote, and Antoinette was ultimately executed for crimes against the state.
In response to the backlash, Kalil clarified in a TikTok video that she did not actually attend the Met Gala but was only a pre-event host for E! News, conducting interviews and creating content outside a designated hotel. She also revealed that a designer friend had created her dress for free. Kalil apologized for her use of the audio from the film “Marie Antoinette,” claiming that she did not intend to highlight elitism as she felt she was not “elite enough” to be invited to the Met Gala. She also admitted to being “uneducated” about the situation in Gaza at the time.
Despite Kalil’s attempt at an apology, her video was met with further criticism, with thousands of comments and videos questioning her sincerity. Some users drew comparisons to the dystopian film “The Hunger Games,” suggesting that the elite were watching from afar as she navigated the backlash. Forbes has reached out to Kalil for further comment on the situation.
Haley Kalil is a well-known model and influencer who gained fame through appearances in publications like Sports Illustrated, where she won the magazine’s 2018 Swim Search open call. With over 10 million followers on TikTok and five million on Instagram, she has amassed a significant following. However, Kalil has now become the focal point of a new online movement known as the “celebrity blockout” or the “digital guillotine.” This movement urges people to block celebrities on social media platforms, reducing their engagement and ad revenue, as they earn money from ads shown on their posts based on engagement metrics.
The movement has gained traction on TikTok, with users creating daily or weekly block lists of celebrities, including Kalil, who they believe are insensitive or disconnected from societal issues. By blocking these celebrities, users can prevent them from earning money through ad revenue. Notable figures who have made it onto people’s block lists include Drake, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, and various members of the Kardashian-Jenner family. It remains to be seen how this blockout movement will impact influencers’ ad revenue in the long run.
