An Irish blogger has quit social media after admitting she rigged competitions to give prizes to her friends.
Terrie McEvoy, 26, from Dublin who is currently based in Sydney where she works as a nurse, blogs about beauty, fashion and travelling and boasts 116,000 followers on Instagram.
Recently, a now-deleted Instagram account bull***callerouter revealed that in 2015, the influencer had run competitions in conjunction with family-run business Tower Jewellers, and given prizes of bracelets to her best friend and brother’s girlfriend.
Terrie has now issued a grovelling apology, explaining: ‘Approx 100 people entered each one … I think I knew about 30 of the people that entered at the time… I had a small following BUT, I know that’s not an excuse.
‘I 100 per cent should have picked somebody I didn’t know and I appreciate why people were so angry, I TOTALLY understand. But I just want people to know that at the time I had my reasons to pick these two particular girls and my heart was in the right place.’
She also announced she’s stepping away from social media for a while to ‘keep focusing on me’, adding ‘It’s been hard to concentrate over the past few days and I haven’t been looking after myself.’
Irish blogger Terrie McEvoy, 26, who is currently based in Sydney had admitted that in 2015 she gave two competition prizes to people she knew – her best friend and her brother’s girlfriend
The lifestyle blogger insisted she regretted what she’d done and was new to blogging with a small following at the time
In her post Terrie insisted she’s remorseful, adding: ‘I’ve learned, I’ve apologised, I’ve cried my tears, and absolutely beat myself up over it… but again… I CAN’T do anything about the past.’
Mail Online has contacted Terrie for further comment.
Terrie’s Instagram account is still active and after her apology post, which she shared alongside a snap of herself ‘cuddling a kangaroo’, she posted another photo of herself at Bronte Beach, revealing that she’s leaving Sydney for her next adventure.
Her Facebook page has disappeared since the controversy, but her blog is still live.
Blogger Terrie McEvoy issued a long apology via Instagram, saying she’s cried and beaten herself up but ultimately can’t change the past
Her apology provoked a mixed reaction from followers with many supporting the blogger, insisting that everyone makes mistakes.
‘Three years ago seriously people need to get over it now,’ one wrote.
However, others were not impressed with one saying that there’s ‘no excuse’ for rigging and fixing competitions, even if she was new to blogging at the time.
As well as documenting her travels in destinations such as Singapore, Fiji and Thailand on her blog, Terrie shares beauty tips and life advice – some of which may be standing her in good stead at present.
Her post provoked a mixed reaction, with many supporting the blogger and insisting it was all in the past – while others said there was no excuse for fixing a competition
In a post on 10 life lessons she’s learned, she wrote: People will criticise if you are doing good or bad.
‘What they think is their business not yours. Keep the blinkers on and just keep doing what makes you happy.
‘Some people will just have a problem with you, no matter how kind you are, or how much of a beautiful person you are and thats ok!!
‘It does not define you, it just simply means that they’re not for you. Once you get your head around this, your life will become so much easier!!! I have been here so many times trust me.’
The fashionista shares updated about her life in Sydney with her 116,000 Instagram followers
The Sydney-based blogger has apparently deleted her Facebook account and announced she was taking a break from Instagram
Terrie admitted she’d given prizes to friends, but said her heart had been in the right place at the time