TikTok influencer and mum Brittany Miller’s actions have come under a huge amount of scrutiny after she admitted she had previously lied about having gastric cancer
British influencer Brittany Miller appeared to have a great life – millions of followers, a lucrative life working with top brands and lots of luxury holidays.
But there was something she hadn’t discussed with her loyal viewers, despite appearing chatty and open. The Oxfordshire mum admitted she had faked having cancer in an emotional video she shared recently on TikTok.
“I never wanted to talk about this time in my life because it was a very difficult time for me, but I owe it to my followers and people who support me to tell you my truth,” she said through tears. Explaining that she was suffering from “extremely bad mental health” and was “depressed and suicidal, lost and confused” in 2017, she admitted she had lied.
READ MORE: ‘I grew up with fake cancer mumfluencer, she used a dark trick to deceive us’
The 29-year-old said she “deeply regretted” telling one friend in confidence that she “had an illness, which was cancer”, describing it as “one stupid sentence that I deeply regret”. “At the time I didn’t realise how bad, but it was bad,” she added. “I was depressed, I was suicidal, I was lost, I was confused – I lost my partner, I lost my job and there were lots of things in that year that led me to be mentally ill.”
She said it had not been a “long running scam or a manipulative story like it’s been made out to be,” but that a friend had set up a fundraising video.
“As soon as I saw there was donations, I had the page immediately shut down and I didn’t take a penny from it,” she added. “I’ve grown from this; I am working on being the best version of myself. I know how horrible this disease is, and I know how much it affects people so for that I am so, so sorry.”
But her apology video is thought to have raised thousands of pounds, after being viewed more than 12 million times. To receive money for their content, influencers must have more than 10,000 views, be over 18 and part of the TikTok Creator Fund, which pays them based on how many times it was viewed.
The Daily Mail estimates the influencer could have racked up as much as £5,000 to £15,000 for her apology video – sparking speculation as to why she finally acknowledged the scandal, which friends say has been brewing for some time. A source told the paper: “For these influencers, it seems that the more scandals they have, the more money they get..”
A source who knew Brittany while growing up in Bicester previously told The Mirror that the influencer has managed to deceive her audience for so long by using a disturbing social media tactic. “People from our hometown have known about this years, but it has taken a long time for it to come out because she has since moved away,” they said.
“She also has a filter on her comments so any words relating to the story never appear and she actively deletes any that make it through, and blocking the person making the comment.”
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected], visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
