Anti-vaxxer influencer Chloe Szepanowski has made a desperate attempt to win back favour among her fans, after being slammed for not wearing a face mask while shopping.
The Gold Coast Instagram model, 22, and her boyfriend Mitchell Orval sparked backlash earlier this month after they uploaded a YouTube video documenting themselves visiting a shopping centre without wearing mandatory face masks.
Fans promptly slammed the couple for their behaviour, labelling the display as ‘reckless’ and ‘entitled’.
‘My mistake’: Gold Coast influencer Chloe Szepanowski, 22, (pictured) has apologised online after she was slammed for not wearing a mask while shopping – but her critics aren’t buying it
On Sunday, Chloe went into damage control, claiming she made a ‘mistake’ by not wearing a mask in a lengthy Instagram post.
Bizarrely, the TikTok star also insisted she isn’t ‘anti or pro anything’ – despite recently voicing her opposition to vaccines and Covid lockdowns.
‘Where I live, I am lucky enough to have more freedoms than other places and for this I’m grateful,’ she wrote.
Slammed: The Instagram model and her boyfriend Mitchell Orval sparked backlash earlier this month after they uploaded a YouTube video documenting themselves visiting a shopping centre without wearing mandatory face masks
‘I never want to come across as abusing those rights. It was my mistake for publicly not wearing a mask and I take ownership of that mistake.’
The blonde also said she believes in both ‘natural and Western’ medicine – but failed to explain her beliefs about scientifically-proven vaccines such as the Covid jab.
Instead, she focussed on emphasising the importance of ‘personal choice’ and embracing ‘whatever serves us best’.
Whoops! On Sunday, Chloe went into damage control, claiming she made a ‘mistake’ by not wearing a mask in a lengthy Instagram post
Chloe, who commands a following of 651K users on social media, said she wants to ‘inspire’ her fans rather than tell them how to live their lives.
‘I acknowledge what works for me may not work for you!’ she said.
Unfortunately, a large number of followers weren’t convinced by Chloe’s aplogy, with one commenting: ‘You never wear a mask though. It wasn’t a one off. You think you’re above others. Simple.’
Not sold: Unfortunately, a large number of followers weren’t convinced by Chloe’s aplogy, with one commenting: ‘You never wear a mask though. It wasn’t a one off. You think you’re above others. Simple’
‘She is still not saying she isn’t anti-vax, she’s still not saying she has vaccinated her kid, and she’s still not taking responsibility for the misinformation she has spread and for taking advantage of others doing the right thing so that she can stay safe. What a joke,’ another wrote.
Elsewhere, another added: ‘What form of kindness is disregarding others’ health? There is no personal choice here that doesn’t affect us all.’
They continued: ‘It’s this mindset of ‘I’m gonna do what best for me and only for me’ that makes this situation so dangerous.”
Chloe and Mitchell are not believed to be medically exempt from wearing a mask during the pandemic.
It comes after Chloe was slammed online for her controversial YouTube video, in which she is seen shopping mask-free while surrounded by masked shoppers.
‘If I can wear a mask for a nine-hour shift… you can wear one around Kmart. Not that hard,’ one fan commented on the eyebrow-raising video.
‘Yikes guys… the self entitlement is gross’: It comes after Chloe was slammed online for her controversial YouTube video, in which she is seen shopping mask-free while surrounded by masked shoppers
‘Yikes guys… the self entitlement is gross,’ another commented.
‘You can’t even do a simple thing like wear a mask in a public place, endangering the lives of others. Do you think you’re better and above everyone else that you are exempt from wearing a mask? Absolutely disgusting behaviour from people who are supposed to be ‘influencers’,’ a third wrote.
‘It is absolutely disgusting that you think it is okay to use a platform like this to literally endanger and risk other people’s lives,’ another agreed.
Restrictions: The Gold Coast is among 11 Local Government Areas in South East Queensland that are subject to continued restrictions , which include wearing a mask at all times unless you can stay 1.5m away from others
The Gold Coast is among 11 Local Government Areas in South East Queensland that are subject to continued restrictions, which include wearing a mask at all times unless you can stay 1.5m away from others.
It came after Chloe laughed in the faces of former fans who were concerned about the impact her anti-Covid views might have on impressionable fans in a video telling haters to simply ‘ignore’ her content.
The Instagram star has lost more than 20,000 followers since outing herself as a Covid denier who does not believe vaccines are needed.
Not impressed: Chloe’s own followers criticised her in the comments section, with one saying: ‘If I can wear a mask for a nine-hour shift, you can wear one around Kmart. Not hard’
Given her income is based almost solely on her work online, followers were stunned to learn that she seemingly is at peace with her opinions resulting in her losing fans.
She shared a ‘snarky’ video on Saturday skipping outside her Gold Coast mansion with a caption that read: ‘How to continue on with your day even if you don’t agree with something’.
The video offended legions of her formerly loyal fans, who claim it is the ‘final nail in the coffin’ and insulting to those who are genuinely concerned about public health.
Response: It came after Chloe laughed in the faces of former fans who were concerned about the impact her anti-Covid views might have on impressionable fans in a new video telling haters to simply ‘ignore’ her content. Pictured with her boyfriend Mitchell Orval
Some fans have gone so far as to suggest she’ll be ‘permanently cancelled’, while others said they will burn any merchandise they own of hers in a bonfire.
‘The whole of Australia is over them at the moment… I’ve never unfollowed someone so fast’, one former fan said.
‘They’re bleeding followers at this point.’
Ouch: Fans vowed to boycott the mother-of-one’s activewear label and were disappointed when they realised there are no refunds available on any sale items
Others vowed to boycott the mother-of-one’s activewear label and were disappointed when they realised there are no refunds available on any sale items.
The coronavirus vaccine is a safe and vital measure being taken to protect the community from the spread of the virus.
Covid-19 can cause serious illness, ongoing health problems and even death.
The vaccines being rolled out in Australia are designed to ensure that even if you do contract Covid, you won’t get seriously ill.
Essential: Covid-19 can cause ongoing health problems and even death. The vaccines being rolled out in Australia ensure that even if you do contract Covid, you won’t get seriously ill