Digital nomad/influencer gets heat for encouraging people to go live to Bali
American woman sparks furious backlash for ‘tone-deaf’ viral thread about moving to Bali https://t.co/NA4egB1ucJ
- The Independent (@Independent) January 17, 2021
Influencer Kristen Gray, started a gone viral thread on Twitter on how she started anew with her girlfriend in Bali from LA, showcasing the amazing real estate she scored for the small price of $400 compared to rent prices in the USA and other luxuries that they could afford in the island, as shown on their different platforms, mentioning that during the quarantine they have been able to work in Indonesia for over a year, also stating they are living an “elevated lifestyle” and that Bali was “the perfect medicine” for her physical and emotional health, all while promoting their e-book Our Bali Life is Yours for $30, on how to achieve the same lifestyle, along with budget guides, references and even visa lawyers. Listing the benefits of living in Bali as safety, low cost of living, luxury lifestyle and positive experience as a black woman.
However, it didn’t take long for Internet and Indonesian users to uncover that they’re part of a stream of people from more developed countries, abusing a legal loophole in order to overstay in the country with just a tourist visa, evading taxes while working in the country and contributing to gentrify and keep out locals from areas by over inflating household and general living costs.
Her comments about living in luxury were also labelled tone-deaf, given that Indonesia is Southeast Asia’s most populous nation and its largest economy, yet a quarter of the population lives just above the poverty line, with almost 10% living in poverty. Indonesians also highlighted how different life is in the country for those without her American privilege, and the potential damage of encouraging more Americans to move there.
Kristen and her girlfriend made all their accounts private but ultimately Kristen deactivated her Twitter and TikTok ones.
no, mereka ga bayar pajak 💀 pic.twitter.com/1CbLJc91zp
- ً (@bonjeurs) January 17, 2021
FYI this lady still selling her ebook to her 10.4K followers on IG. I'd be lying if i say i feel comfortable seeing some ppl in the comments are "interested" to move to Bali to follow her path 🙃 pic.twitter.com/cN5AmtN3mD
- Dey 데이 (@toyoilohu) January 17, 2021
Sources 1 2 3