Essena O'Neill quitting social media is a hoax: friends
Instagram model Essena O'Neill has hit back at fierce criticism from friends after her viral post about the decision to quit social media was labelled a hoax and publicity stunt.
At the start of this week, the 19-year-old Australian had 586,000 followers on Instagram, 200,000 followers on a YouTube account, a modelling contract with a major national agency and companies paying her to post on social media.
Now, she seems to have surrendered a lot of that following her video post on YouTube where the Queenslander explained her decision to dump social media.
"I haven't been truly vulnerable or honest yet ... this movement is for my 12-year-old self," said Ms O'Neill.
"The girl that thought she was nothing because she wasn't popular online."
But Ms O'Neill, who has now removed all of her presence on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, has faced a 15-minute personal barrage of rebuttal from friends and fellow YouTubers Nina and Randa.
"The reason she is so upset and so down is because of the break up with this guy," they asserted in a reply to Ms O'Neill's 'hoax'.
"What she is saying is fake.
"When things ended with [Essena and her LA-based boyfriend]... she hated LA and I guess everyone along with it - terrible people and depressed and sad."
The twins also branded Ms O'Neill a hypocrite and a fake for her self promotion through the viral post.
"She has more Instagram followers ever because of this publicity stunt," they said.
Their brother took a similar view.
"I think what we're seeing here is a little thing called PBST - post breakup stress disorder," he said in his own video.
"I think Essena came out to LA and was very overwhelmed... just couchsurfing... I don't like that Essena is saying everyone is fake when everyone was nice to her.
"They let her stay in their bedrooms and on their couches and took her out for meals."
Ms O'Neill responded to the twins' criticism on Wednesday morning, responding online before appearing on Australian morning television.
"Nina And Randa, this is nothing about my personal life," she commented on YouTube.
"This is about me feeling the need to constantly perfect and edit my life online. I am so grateful for everyone in LA but the feeling of misery was internal and I do blame myself for that, no one else. Please my personal life doesn't deserve to be online.
"I've had these feelings about social media for ages and struggled with coming to grips with them. If this is me calling out paid posts and beach shoots?
"Guys I just want people to know my life was edited and not 'real'. I want to use this spot light to talk about veganism, environmental awareness, body positivity.... why do you feel okay talking about my personal life to the world? This is about so much more than me. Please this isn't right, you've twisted my words."
Ms O'Neill doesn't know how she is going to make money after ditching a social media career she profited from but now deems contrived.
She has now revealed the glamour behind each of her photos was laborious work that actually made her miserable and is unsure of the next step forward when it comes to paying the bills.
“What I’m doing scares the absolute f--k out of me,” she said.
“I don’t know where I’m going, I don’t know what’s going to happen next, I have no idea how I’m going to make money.
“I can’t afford rent right now,” she continued.
“I’m embarrassed to admit that I need help ... if you like my videos, or like any of my posts, or you like this website, if this is of value to you, then, yeah, please support me because I can’t afford my own real life."
Ms O'Neill has recently edited the captions of her remaining Instagram photos, debunking the myth that many of her photos were real.
“Everything I was doing was edited and contrived,” she said.
Ms O'Neill has deleted thousands of images, choosing to keep a select few which she captions with blatant honesty.
"Without realising, I've spent the majority of my teenage life being addicted to social media, social approval, social status and my physical appearance. Social media, especially how I used it, isn't real," Ms O'Neill said of her new move.
"My success was largely in the hands of my white privilege and genetics. I was thin, tanned, toned, blonde with a big smile and a push up bra."
On one post she admits, "I didn't pay for the dress, took countless photos trying to look hot for Instagram, the formal made me feel incredibly alone.
"Social media allowed me to profit off deluding people... If you find yourself looking at 'Instagram girls' and wishing your life was theirs... Realise you only see what they want."
Moving into the future Ms O'Neill has created a new project which she's calling Let's be Game Changers, where she is encouraging readers to live a more meaningful life.
On her new website she has shared two videos of herself - make-up free - in a real and authentic fashion.
She says she hopes the movement contributes to helping others define their worth through more than just their outward appearance or social media popularity.
