TV host and businesswoman Maggie Wilson has taken to social media to expose content creators allegedly involved in a disinformation campaign against her and her interior and decor company, Acasa Manila, on the popular platform TikTok.
This explosive revelation has set social media ablaze, with Wilson and her detractors engaging in a heated online feud.
The controversy erupted when Wilson, clearly miffed by the unfolding saga, referred to those allegedly complicit in the smear campaign as “bayarang influencers” or paid influencers. The buzz surrounding this accusation sent her trending not only on TikTok but also on other social media platforms.
A cursory search on TikTok reveals several content creators reciting the incendiary opening line, “Habang nag-scroll ako sa Instagram nakita ko ang story ni Maggie Wilson” (While scrolling through Instagram, I saw Maggie Wilson’s story).
These influencers then go on to narrate stories of customers who claim to have been scammed by Acasa Manila, as well as raising doubts about Wilson’s partner, Tim Connor.
Wilson didn’t take these accusations lying down. She promptly posted screenshots of the alleged script and the offers sent to these TikTok influencers, calling them out for their involvement in the campaign.
In a direct challenge, Wilson urged those who received payment, reportedly up to ₱8,000, to come forward to avoid legal repercussions. She also implored anyone involved in the alleged coordinated attack to reach out to her and Connor to reveal the full extent of their dealings.
“To all the content creators, organizers, and others that participated in this campaign: We have all your names and many of your IDs, places of work, school, etc. Even if the videos were deleted,” she declared in a series of Instagram Stories.
She added, “Once we receive it, we will decide whether to include you in our legal action through the criminal justice system. We encourage you to present this within the next 24 hours.”
Connor, Wilson’s partner, weighed in on the scandal, calling it an “absolute car crash of a smear campaign.”
TikTok user @rolyn_jay, boasting 9.9 million followers, posted an apology video admitting that the incendiary video was scripted, and he received ₱7,000 for his efforts, with ₱1,000 going to the person who recruited him.
Within hours of Wilson’s expose, numerous so-called influencers and TikTokers began issuing public apologies to the celebrity and Tim Connor, admitting that they were paid ₱8,000 to participate in the smear campaign.
Netizens on X, formerly known as Twitter, lent a helping hand in exposing these “paid trolls” or “influencers” by identifying them and posting their videos on the platform.
Some users expressed their frustration, with one commenting, “Bobo talaga yung ibang content creator and we should deplatform those. Mga bayarang troll na walang sariling isip. Anlala grabe. Because of these trolls, who can fabricate false info, we have this kind of government today.”
Another X user remarked, “Eto yung benedict paredes na tinag ni Maggie Wilson sa stories nya na nag-organize nung attack against her. If babalikan nyo yung GC screenshot, sya yung nagsabi sa last part na ‘hindi naman tayo nakulong noon’ or smth like that.”
One vigilant user called for reporting the accounts of influencers involved in the smear campaign, particularly singling out one individual as a fraud.
Adding fuel to the fire, Wilson alleged that Rachel Carrasco, the current partner of her estranged husband, businessman Victor Consunji, is the mastermind behind the campaign. However, the said post is no longer available on her IG story, and as of now, Carrasco has yet to respond to media inquiries.
This escalating social media showdown is a potent reminder of the power and pitfalls of influencer culture in today’s digital landscape, where authenticity is highly prized, but sometimes, it comes at a price.
The Daily Netizen 