A TikToker who was mocked for calling a $60 purse 'luxury' said she is 'deeply hurt' by new accusations that she pretended to be poor in response
Zoe Gabriel via TikTok
- In January, 17-year-old Zoe Gabriel was mocked for calling a purse worth $60 "luxury."
- After responding to the backlash, she landed a brand deal and gained online fame.
- But she later faced accusations that she misrepresented her family's wealth along the way.
A TikToker who faced mockery for making an excited post about a luxury bag worth $60 has now denied accusations that she pretended to be from a low-income family to get sympathy on social media.
In January, 17-year-old Zoe Gabriel went viral on TikTok with a video thanking her father for buying her a bag from Singaporean fashion brand Charles & Keith, which costs $76 on the fashion house's US website and 79.90 Singapore dollars, or about $60, on its Singapore website.
Gabriel was ridiculed by commenters for referring to the item as a "luxury" bag in a caption on her post, as some commenters referenced other brands and items that have similar price points but wouldn't be considered luxury, and one user likened her description to "calling a fast food restaurant fine dining." The TikToker responded to the backlash with a follow-up post explaining that she does not come from a wealthy background and is grateful her father used his hard-earned money to buy her the gift.
Gabriel's triumphant response to negative commenters won her praise from supporters on social media. She was also made a brand ambassador for Charles & Keith, and featured in a series of promotional TikToks for Air Asia, a Malaysian budget airline, though it's unclear if the partnership was a direct result of the online backlash Gabriel received.
However, Gabriel has now responded to more negative comments and new online rumors suggesting that she exaggerated her story about her family's low-income background to gain clout and attention on social media.
In a number of Facebook posts and comments, people speculated that Gabriel's father was more well-off than the TikToker initially implied, noting that Gabriel previously told local media that her family moved to Singapore from the Philippines in 2010, a decision which some assumed would involve significant costs. Local media outlet The Straits Times reported that Gabriel's father works as a mechanical engineer, and one user shared a screenshot of what appeared to be his LinkedIn page, which included information about his previous work experience, to suggest that he "probably earns more than most Singaporeans."
On April 16, Gabriel posted a TikTok where she stood alongside her father, saying that the pair wanted to "address what's been happening and to clear the air."
A written statement then flashed across the screen, which appeared to reference some of the accusations launched against Gabriel. It read: "The truth has always been out from the beginning — there were never any 'dirty little secrets.' While we are offended, deeply hurt and affected from all these wrongful and false accusations, we choose to stay true to who we are."
The clip then cut to show Gabriel standing next to her father, who said, "We are not rich, but we definitely have enough for our needs," adding that the family still needs to "save up" and work hard to buy non-essential items.
Many commenters expressed empathy for Gabriel and her family, saying they understand what it means to consider yourself financially stable but still far from wealthy.
Others said they were concerned about the negativity and rumors that were circulating online. "Why can't people just be happy other people are winning?" one top commenter wrote.
Representatives for Gabriel did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
On TikTok, content creators often face scrutiny for talking about making large and expensive purchases, leading to accusations about them being privileged or out of touch.
In October, Insider reported that an influencer received backlash after saying she'd "accidentally" bought a couch for $100,000 but later appeared to suggest it was a prank. In November, another influencer said she spent $10,000 on Harry Styles tickets so she could be close to the stage, attracting criticism from some commenters who said that level of spending would be beyond the means of many ordinary people.
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