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Influencer's face mask bikini and 'F*** the vaccine' rant slammed
A Love Island star has been slammed for posing in a bikini made of face masks and going on an anti-vax rant on social media.
Katie Salmon, who appeared on the UK version of the reality TV show in 2016, took to Instagram on Sunday to share a photo of herself wearing the barely-there two-piece swimsuit constructed from PPE.
In the caption, the influencer and OnlyFans star reacted to news that some of her fellow reality TV stars had been paid by the UK Government to spruik the NHS’ Covid ‘Test and Trace’ program on their personal social media accounts.
“Bikini season 2021. I heard [the government is] paying Love Island stars and influencers to promote track and trace,” she wrote.
According to the Sun, the UK Cabinet Office handed out a total of $111,000 to various Love Island stars and influencers in exchange for Instagram ads that encouraged young people to get tested for COVID-19.
Katie went on to urge her followers to ‘stay healthy’ through meditation and feeding themselves ‘goodness’.
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She also instructed them not to watch the news and finished by appearing to say ‘f*** the vaccine,’ however instead of using the word ‘vaccine’ she included a syringe emoji.
“I’m here to tell you all. Stay healthy in your mind, meditate. Feed your body goodness. Trust your gut. F the [syringe emoji]. And oh don’t watch the news. #sendinghealing.”
Katie’s post received mixed opinions in the comments section, with many Instagram users choosing to cut ties with her following her controversial post.
“Unfollowed ..to those who don't agree with the views of this 'influencer' hit them where it hurts...unfollow,” one wrote.
“Unfollowed. You can post what you want Katie and I respect that, but thousands of people are dying from this,” added another.
One user who claimed to be a health care worker hinted at the undeniable realities of COVID-19 on the front line:
“Come and do a few shifts on an ambulance and in a COVID ward with me, you’d soon change your mind,” they suggested.
Another fan asked Katie: “Are you saying...don't take the vaccine?” to which she replied: “I’m not here to tell anybody what to do babe.”
Some praised Katie for her post, however, with one remarking: “Nice to see a woke influencer keep planting the seed.”
Others didn’t appear to engage in the political aspect of it at all, instead complimenting Katie on her ‘stunning’ look.
Several hours after sharing the post, Katie took to her Instagram Stories to address the backlash, saying that she “would not be intimidated... for sharing my own truth.”
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