Influencer Sparks Outrage After Snatching Baby Wombat from Mother in Viral Video

An American influencer is being slammed for snatching a joey.

In an incident that caused widespread uproar, Sam Jones removed a baby wombat from its mother in Australia, which she later took back to her vehicle – an act captured in a video that has since been deleted from Instagram.

As the woman, who identifies herself as a nature lover on her recently made private Instagram, sprinted toward Jones, there was a person with a camera chuckling during that moment.

In the video, Jones stated, “I have a young wombat here,” she explained, as the creature hissed near her. “Don’t worry, mom is nearby and she’s definitely upset.

Even though the baby wombat was making a loud, distressed noise, Jones kept holding onto the marsupial for a brief while before finally setting it back on the road. It wasn’t clear if the animal managed to find its mother again since the video stopped as Jones released the wombat.

She commented on her deleted Instagram post, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, stating that the mother and baby had returned safely into the bushes without any harm.

TopMob News has reached out to Jones for comment and has not heard back.

Following the removal of her uploaded video, which sparked a wave of criticism, various Australian conservation groups, authorities, and netizens spoke out against Jones’ behavior. Specifically, the Wombat Protection Society of Australia highlighted that Jones’ actions might lead to dire outcomes for the wombat.

The organization expressed their dismay and worry about a tourist who seemed to mistreat a baby wombat for social media attention, as stated in a March 12 Facebook post. This person, apparently unaware of wombat behavior and the distressing impact of human interaction and separation from its mom, was the one involved.

I can’t help but express my worry over the situation, as it seems there’s been no definitive proof that the joey has been safely reunited with its mom. You see, at this age, a joey is incredibly reliant on its mother for survival, and any prolonged separation could be catastrophic. It’s a heart-wrenching thought!

As a devoted follower of wildlife conservation, I’d like to share that while protections for animals can differ from state to state across Australia, it’s crucial to note that every Australian wild creature is safeguarded under the Biodiversity Conservation Act. This fact was emphasized by Dr. Tania Bishop, a dedicated veterinarian at Wires Wildlife.

She stressed that it’s forbidden to touch them, interfere with them in any way, and absolutely prohibited to inflict harm or discomfort upon them.

As a devoted follower of conservation laws, I understand that causing harm to a wombat is considered unlawful unless I possess a permit issued by the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment, and Water.

A digital petition, backed by more than 25,000 individuals, called on authorities to expel Jones. One of the supporters stated, “This action was a clear disregard and disrespect towards wildlife in another nation, and it should never be accepted anywhere.

As a devoted follower, I find myself in a position where I’m sharing that I am under review regarding my visa status and potential violations of immigration regulations, as per the words of our Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke.

As an ardent admirer, I find myself expressing my sentiments thusly: “Regardless of her future intentions regarding a visa application, I am quite taken aback if she decides to re-apply, given the intense examination that awaits her. Frankly, I can hardly contain my excitement at the prospect of Australia bidding farewell to this individual. In all honesty, I don’t envision her gracing our shores again.

For more jaw-dropping influencer scandals, read on.

In 2023, it was Colleen Ballinger, not her YouTube persona Miranda Sings, who had to deal with the music of controversy. The internet sensation known for her quirky character found herself embroiled in accusations of grooming and forming inappropriate relationships with underage fans.

In a now-deleted video titled “why I left the Colleen Ballinger fandom…”, YouTuber KodeeRants shared screenshots of an alleged text conversation between Colleen and her followers, accusing the comedian of exploiting her relationship with underage fans.

NBC News reported that the group chat, named “Colleeny’s Weenies”, allegedly had Colleen asking her fans their favorite sexual position during one conversation. However, NBC News could not verify the authenticity of the screenshots.

A few days later, content creator Adam McIntyre, who initially ran a fan account for Miranda Sings when he was 10, released videos on his YouTube channel claiming that Ballinger emotionally manipulates her fans.

Ballinger has not directly responded to these claims, nor did she respond to TopMob News’ request for comment. However, on June 28, she addressed the allegations in a 10-minute ukulele song posted to her personal YouTube account. In the video, Ballinger compared the accusations to a “toxic gossip train” headed for “manipulation station”, suggesting that others were using her past against her.

In July, all remaining dates of her Miranda Sings tour were canceled. She has not posted on social media since.

The controversy arose when the author of “Girl, Wash Your Face” spoke about her house cleaner in a social media post. In a resurfaced video by Angie Treasure, she discussed a comment from someone who said she was privileged, to which she agreed but also defended her hard work. She compared herself to iconic figures like Harriet Tubman, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Marie Curie, and Oprah Winfrey, stating they were all unrelatable. However, it’s important to note that while her book sales are impressive, she is not in the same league as these historical figures.

Later, Hollis issued an Instagram apology, acknowledging that she had caused pain by mentioning these women, including several women of color, whose struggles and achievements she cannot comprehend. She also admitted disregarding those who work hard but do not have financial security due to systemic racism and bias. In her statement, she emphasized the need to be quiet and listen.

In March 2020, the creator of Something Navy clothing line and original blogger announced on Instagram that she had tested positive for COVID-19 and planned to quarantine with her husband Brandon Charnas and their daughters Ruby and Esme in their Manhattan apartment. However, eight days later, the entire household, including their nanny, relocated to the Hamptons. This decision raised eyebrows due to the ongoing pandemic, as comments on her Instagram page grew more critical when she shared pictures of outdoor walks instead of practicing social distancing.

When her husband cracked that only “hot” people were getting the virus, emotions boiled over.

Later, she published a heartfelt apology addressing various issues, such as their nanny also being infected with the virus, ensuring safety measures like having doormen clear out the building lobby before departure, not stopping for gas, and getting groceries delivered; her vacation home was on a secluded street – however, the consequences of her actions persisted.

Nordstrom, who had previously stocked Charnas’ line, decided not to renew the contract that expired in 2019. In response, Charnas, who welcomed her third daughter Navy in 2021, transitioned to a direct-to-consumer relaunch, stating “I desired more control,” and is now posting about her favorite Shopbop picks and collaborations with A Pea in the Pod.

On The Glossy Podcast, she admitted a key lesson she learned was, “People expected me to be more aware of global events, and I should have been.

In 2020, fashion influencer Emily Gellis Lande publicly criticized registered dietitian Alissa Zuckerbrot over her high-fiber F-Factor Diet. Through a series of posts on social media, Gellis Lande shared unverified testimonies from people who claimed they had spent thousands of dollars to follow the diet and experienced various health issues, including rashes, cramps, signs of metal poisoning, and in one extreme case, a miscarriage. This controversy gained attention from The New York Times, which published an article about it.

Zuckerbrot, who hired lawyer Lanny Davis (former White House special counsel to former president Bill Clinton), denied the allegations and suggested that her diet did not contribute to disordered eating. According to Zuckerbrot, she had only received 50 health complaints out of over 176,000 sales of her snack bars and powders. She also released a Certificate of Analysis to refute claims that her products contained heavy metals and appeared on Today to further defend her program.

In response, Zuckerbrot is dismissive of Gellis Lande’s criticisms, stating, “I think she believes she’s helping people, but in her mind, the lifestyle I lead is poisoning everyone and giving them anorexia.” Zuckerbrot added, “She’s a fashion blogger.”

Following these allegations, Zuckerbrot filed two lawsuits against Gellis Lande, accusing her of launching a smear campaign aimed at damaging her brand. Both lawsuits are currently ongoing, with Gellis Lande denying the claims.

2020 marked a significant period of racial awareness worldwide. However, it was Jessica Mulroney, a friend of Meghan Markle, who experienced a sudden awakening. In a lengthy Instagram video, lifestyle influencer Sasha Exeter detailed her issues with Mulroney. The problems started when Mulroney took offense to Exeter’s appeal for her followers to use their voices to support the Black community and combat racial injustice.

Exeter claimed that Mulroney responded in a problematic manner, allegedly speaking negatively about her to other brands and sending a threatening message. Although Mulroney issued an apology in the comments of Exeter’s video, she later sent a DM that Exeter shared, which read, “Liable suit. Good luck.”

Mulroney subsequently posted an apology to her followers, expressing her intentions to amplify Black voices by handing over her social media account to them. However, Canadian TV network CTV decided to cancel her reality show, I Do, Redo.

Ben Mulroney, Jessica’s husband and co-host of CTV’s eTalk, stepped down from his role in response to the situation involving his wife. He expressed hope that a new anchor, who is Black, Indigenous, or a person of color, would use the platform to inspire, lead, and bring about change. Despite the controversy, Jessica Mulroney managed to keep her high-profile friendship with Meghan Markle, as she wrote in a now-deleted post, “Meghan and I are family. She is the kindest friend.

Renowned for blockbuster cinematic hits like “I DUCT TAPED My Brothers $400,000 Truck!” and being dismissed from Disney Channel’s Bizaardvark, the Vine star turned YouTube sensation transitioned to bigger platforms in 2020.

On August 5th, FBI agents executed a federal search warrant at Paul’s home in Calabasas, California, confirming it was linked to an incident that occurred on May 30th at a Scottsdale, Arizona mall. According to authorities, Paul violated the law by entering and staying inside the shopping center after being ordered to leave by police during a Black Lives Matter protest at the city’s Fashion Square Mall. (Paul defended himself on Twitter, stating that while he was recording the protest, “neither I nor anyone in our group was engaged in any looting or vandalism.”)

Speculation about the reason for the FBI raid grew along with his YouTube following, as footage from a local ABC station showed multiple firearms being taken into a police vehicle. In an August 12th video since deleted, Paul claimed that the search was “entirely related to the Arizona looting situation” and insisted that rumors about it involving other matters unrelated to him or his character were absurd.

Although no charges were filed, Paul’s attorney told TopMob News in a statement that they would cooperate with the investigation.

After reconciling with beauty vlogger Tati Westbrook over a year ago, the YouTube star found himself involved in fresh disputes. In an August 2020 tweet that seemed to critique certain celebrities launching makeup lines, he implied Alicia Keys, who never wears makeup, lacked credibility for her skincare collection, later expressing regret as he acknowledged he’s not the authority on makeup. However, barely two weeks later, he found himself in another predicament when he criticized Lauren Conrad’s new beauty line on Instagram Stories. He ridiculed Conrad by displaying the empty packaging he had received from a new cosmetics brand whose founder shouldn’t be in the business of makeup, according to him.

Unfortunately for him, Lauren Conrad didn’t cry a single mascara tear over the incident. She humorously admitted her mistake on Instagram, blaming the woman responsible for assembling the gifts (presumably the expert at applying winged eyeliner) for accidentally including an empty bag of samples among the others and sending it out.

Conrad shared that “When beauty products arrived and it was time to fill all the makeup bags, she (again, me) accidentally included the bag full of empties with the others and it was sent out.” She added that “She will be let go immediately.” Charles later apologized, explaining that the videos were meant to be funny and clarifying that “Lauren and I spoke privately about the misunderstanding & are both good.” However, it’s evident he knew what he had done.

In a May 2020 video, vlogger and YouTuber Myka Stauffer began by stating that the video was one of the hardest they had ever made publicly. It quickly became clear that she wouldn’t be discussing her newborn routine or diet. Instead, Myka and her husband revealed that they had placed their then-4-year-old son Huxley, whom they adopted from China in 2017, with his new forever family due to struggles in managing his autism.

The response from their nearly one million subscribers was largely upset, with viewers questioning whether the couple, parents to four other children, were either innocent or had used Huxley for views and donations before discarding him when caring for him became too difficult. The couple lost followers and partnerships with brands like Fabletics, Suave, and Danimals, who announced they were ending their collaborations. Even Ohio’s Delaware County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to TopMob News that they were investigating Huxley’s well-being.

Authorities later closed the case without any charges in late June, but Myka’s brand remains inactive. Since issuing a lengthy apology for being naive during the adoption process and clarifying they were not under investigation, she has not posted on YouTube or Instagram.

When Hall declared in May 2020 that he and his TikTok companion might embark on a cross-country road trip shortly, they received more than just sightseeing tips they anticipated. Hall’s Twitter followers were less than enthused about the pair disregarding stay-at-home guidelines to travel, prompting Hall to retort, “most states have lifted quarantine; the boys are driving across country while maintaining social distance… it’s not a big deal.”

However, they found themselves in a much deeper predicament when they traveled through Lee County, Texas five days later. The sheriff’s office confirmed that Hall was arrested and charged with marijuana possession, while Hossler was also arrested and charged with controlled substance possession. (They both posted bail the following day. TopMob News contacted both reps for comment at the time; Hall’s rep declined to comment, while Hossler did not respond.)

In a June essay for People magazine, Hall admitted he had begun the journey toward sobriety: “Although I’ve made mistakes in the past, I am learning and growing… and I will make you proud. I promise.

In October 2019, YouTube personalities known as the Stokes Twins dressed in black and staged a bank robbery prank by calling an Uber for a getaway. The unsuspecting Uber driver was confronted with this scenario and refused to leave, prompting a bystander to call the police. When the police arrived, they pointed a gun at the Uber driver and released him once they confirmed he wasn’t involved. The Stokes Twins were warned about the dangers of their actions.

Four hours later, they repeated this prank on the University of California, Irvine campus, resulting in their arrest. If convicted of false imprisonment and swatting charges, they could face up to four years in prison. However, they faced the disapproval of Orange County D.A., Todd Spitzer, who stated that these actions could have led to someone getting injured or killed.

In a 2020 statement, their lawyer declared that the twins are innocent of any crimes. Despite this, they pleaded guilty to lesser charges of misdemeanor false imprisonment and reporting false emergencies, receiving 160 hours of community service and one year of probation.

As the once-revered ruler of YouTube’s beauty realm, known for my extensive videos that garnered an impressive 34 million followers, I found my reign abruptly ended in June 2020 following a now-deleted controversial tweet expressing my disillusionment with the online beauty community. In a heated outburst, I declared them as attention-seeking, manipulative, self-centered, narcissistic, vindictive, two-faced time bombs waiting to explode. I specifically targeted James Charles, labeling him as a young, power-hungry influencer in dire need of a slice of humility the size of the Empire State Building.

My audience wasn’t pleased with my choice of words, and they weren’t shy about expressing their disapproval. Those who live in gilded beauty palettes shouldn’t throw stones, as they say. Within days, I posted a 20-minute video titled “Taking Accountability,” where I expressed remorse for my past actions, acknowledging that “I have done a lot of things in my past that I detest,” including the use of blackface, making racist remarks and jokes about pedophilia, and posting a video that sexualized an 11-year-old Willow Smith.

“This video is born from a place of wanting to take responsibility for my actions, wanting to own up to everything I’ve done on the internet that has caused pain, contributed to problems, and not been handled well,” I said. “I should have been punished for these transgressions.” True to my words, YouTube suspended my ability to monetize my three accounts.

In 2021, I returned to content creation, stating, “I’m incredibly grateful that I was ‘canceled,’ as it truly transformed my life.

2025-03-13 18:48

Read More