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Shabaz Ali is a chemistry teacher who has amassed 1.5 million TikTok followers by mocking rich people.
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Ali sees poverty in schools and wants influencers to “take more responsibility” for the recession.
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He said the influencer culture is “dying.” Because people don’t want to see their wealth flaunted online.
Shabaz Ali is a TikToker who has amassed 1.5 million followers by making fun of rich people.
Ali using the handle “Shabazz says” On social media, they could show up on your TikTok feed, lying in bed, wearing colorful hoodies and insulting viewers for being “povvo” (British slang for poor).
His viewers know him as “the CEO of ‘I’m Rich, You’re Poor’.” It’s a series of videos in which Ali satirizes the extravagant lifestyle some people share online. His aim is to show how far they are from millions. soaring prices.
Ali’s video was released by an influencer $550 Dog Collar From Guccior another claiming to spend $2,000 a month designer glass bottles of water Originally from Norway.
self-proclaimed “Robin Hood” In reality, a 30-year-old high school chemistry teacher from Blackburn, in the north of England, spoke to Insider during school recess.
“Just before lockdown, one of my students said, ‘Oh my God, you should download this app TikTok, it’s really funny and you’ll love it’.”During lockdown , we had nothing else to do, so we ended up just recording the video.”
After appearing on a reality show called “The Circle” in 2021, Ali decided to focus more on his social media accounts, especially TikTok. His laid-back style earned him nearly half a million followers by 2022, but it was only when he started reacting to wealthy people that the tally surpassed his million. bottom.
“It started with the idea that wealthy people have more time and can go out and make 17 different flavors of ice cream because they don’t have to go to work. Work.” He said.
“I think we should be more responsible, especially in the current situation. Don’t be so vocal. In a cost-of-living crisis, some people have no food and some people eat too much.”
Ali saw students suffer poverty at the school he taught
Ali’s video is partly inspired by his experience as a teacher and witnessing firsthand the impact of government spending cuts on students.
“I worked in a school in Bolton and it was an absolute necessity. Some kids weren’t eating,” he said, and some didn’t eat hot meals on weekends. added.
Ali disliked the influencer focus of apps such as Instagram, and felt that TikTok was the right place to address such issues in a more comedic way.
In one video, he reacts to a woman who paid him £70 ($82). dior designer cookies.
Ali’s fans also include figures such as singer Lily Allen, with some offering to pay him to promote the lifestyle on Ali’s page.
‘The age of influencers is coming to an end’
Ali’s videos echo the sentiments of some people that influencers are losing influence over their audiences.
picked up some “Deinfluence”or investigate the hype around cult products to appear more authentic and authentic.
“The days of influencers are coming to an end,” Ali said. “We don’t want to sit there with images of beautiful people doing beautiful things with beautiful money.”
He has no plans to become an influencer himself, nor does he plan to quit teaching anytime soon. Despite his 177 million views on TikTok in December, he says he has only earned £28 ($33).
Ali says he is now exploring more profitable social media platforms and is already making more money.
Read the original article at business insider