Influencer Misconduct – and more – in the News in December 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the troubling trends in misconduct across industries. This month, we highlight our groundbreaking research, The State of Influencer Misconduct in 2024, which sheds light on the growing risks of influencer misconduct in the $24 billion influencer marketing industry. Based on thousands of screenings we conducted this year, the report reveals that nearly 47% of influencers exhibited problematic behaviors such as intolerance, threats, and sexual misconduct – posing significant reputational risks for brands worldwide.

The impact of influencer misconduct on brands cannot be overstated. With influencers serving as the face of many marketing campaigns, their actions can either elevate or tarnish a brand’s reputation overnight. This month alone, several high-profile cases made headlines:

Hawk Tuah Girl’s Crypto Team Short on Answers After Disastrous Meme Coin Bust

Haliey Welch's launch of $HAWK saw the evaporation of millions in value, and investors say they are gearing up to take legal action (Rolling Stone)

TikTok influencer arrested again for stealing from same Target twice

Read the article here (New York Daily News)

MrBeast Responds to Allegations over upcoming Game Show

The accusations stem from a lawsuit filed in September involving Amazon, MrBeast, and other entities. Five anonymous contestants alleged unsafe conditions, non-payment, and sexual harassment on set. (NewsBreak)

Chinese Influencer Sparks Outrage by Mocking Jobless Youth

Yang Yue thought he was being funny by asking, “Is it really that hard to get a job?” Millions of angry netizens disagreed. (Sixth Tone)

Additional Workplace Misconduct Scandals Breaking News

The headlines don’t stop there. December brought a wave of shocking workplace and public scandals:

Gregg Wallace: A TV Career in Crisis Amid Misconduct Allegations

Gregg Wallace, the 60-year-old television personality best known for co-hosting MasterChef, has found himself at the center of a scandal involving allegations of inappropriate behavior spanning nearly two decades. The controversy has sparked public outcry and ongoing investigations by the BBC and Banijay, the production company behind MasterChef. Wallace’s defensive response on social media has further fueled criticism, casting doubt on his ability to return to the spotlight. …

The reported incidents include:

Making sexual jokes and inappropriate comments.
Asking for the phone numbers of female staff members.
Walking around naked on set with only a sock covering his genitals.
Standing uncomfortably close to women on set. (CEO Today)

Former ABC News Anchor Kendis Gibson Claims Racism Led to 2018 Suicide Attempt

“Former ABC News anchor Kendis Gibson claims that racism, bullying, and toxic workplace culture at ABC contributed to his 2018 suicide attempt…. He alleges the environment was marked by hazing and discrimination, which worsened his already fragile mental state. Gibson recalled a Black correspondent warned he was entering “Mickey’s plantation” when he took over T.J. Holmes’ overnight anchor desk role. When Gibson asked what she meant, the former colleague replied, ‘You’ll find out.’ ‘The sense I got from them was that it was in reference to veiled racism, and there was some truth to what was behind it.’ Gibson explained.” (MSN)

“I’ve never run from a job so fast:” It’s a Miracle ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Didn’t Fire Showrunner Who Was an Absolute Menace On Set

Law & Order: SVU's decision to bring one showrunner for Season 24 was met with scandals after several subordinate staff accused him of misconduct. David Graziano, who previously worked on Lie to Me and Coyote, was accused of mistreatment, outbursts, and inappropriate comments. Graziano denied all allegations against him and the show continued to keep him as the showrunner. (FandomWire)

Airlie Walsh suing Channel Nine for sexual discrimination after workplace report exposed toxic culture

“A veteran female Sydney Channel 9 reporter is suing the network over alleged sexual discrimination as the fallout from the a report into Nine’s toxic workplace culture continues. Walsh, who has been on maternity leave since 2023, lodged a human rights claim against Nine Entertainment in the Federal Court last week. The complaint centres around two male executives and inappropriate comments made in the newsroom as well as the network not considering her mental health when assigning her stories to work on, The Daily Mail reports.” (The Nightly)

City workers subjected to ‘police-style interrogations’ by ex-cops, union alleges

The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 79 (CUPE79) is alleging the City of Toronto employed former police officers to investigate city workers, and that these ex-cops subjected employees to aggressive “police-style interrogations” while probing workplace misconduct. (Village Report)

San Carlos Declares No Confidence in San Mateo County Sheriff Amid Scandal

The San Carlos City Council unanimously voted "no confidence" in San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus, joining state and local leaders demanding her resignation. This follows a damning 400-page report alleging a toxic workplace, use of slurs, and an improper relationship with a coworker. Corpus denies the accusations and refuses to step down. (NewsBreak)

Mayor's office faces scrutiny over misconduct accusations against ex-comms chief

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s former communications director, Ronnie Reese, was the subject of multiple complaints alleging workplace misconduct before he was forced out of the position in October — and those allegations include misogyny, racism and “harassing and bullying his staff.” (Crain’s Chicago Business)

Portland Community College cuts ties with Pacific Office Automation over sex assault allegations

Portland Community College this week said it ended a partnership with Pacific Office Automation and stripped the company’s name from a training program in response to sex assault allegations against the Beaverton company’s co-owner and longtime CEO, Doug Pitassi. (OregonLive)

Potential Legal Reasons For The Seattle Storm’s Investigation Of Coaches

The Seattle Storm has hired a law firm to investigate allegations that the team’s coaching staff engaged in harassing and bullying behavior toward players, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. (Forbes)

Safeguarding the Workplace: The Role of Misconduct Filters and Behaviors in Employment Screening

Read the article here (Disa)

Why organisational sex abuse scandals keep happening

Read the article here (The Conversation UK)

The disproportionate harm inflicted on women of colour in politics, and what needs to change

Read the article here (Missing Perspectives)

See Misconduct in the News in 2024: Scandal Recap

From workplace scandals to influencer controversies, here are the biggest stories we covered throughout the year:

As we wrap up the year, the risks of misconduct in all industries, including in influencer marketing, remain a critical conversation for organizations and brands alike. To learn more about how workplace and influencer misconduct is shaping the future of work and brand partnerships, check out Fama’s #9to5Nightmares podcast, where we dive deep into these scandals. Can’t get enough? Hear more real-life workplace horror stories on the WRKdefined’s Mandatory Meeting: Workplace Misconduct podcast.

And if you haven’t already, be sure to check out our groundbreaking research, The State of Influencer Misconduct in 2024. Discover how nearly half of influencer screenings revealed behaviors that could jeopardize brand integrity—and what steps businesses can take to protect themselves.

Don’t just watch the headlines—stay ahead of them.

Get the Newsletter

Recent Blog Posts