Last night, the 2024 TikTok Awards brought together content creators from across Australia and beyond in Sydney for a night filled with glitz and glamour. However, not everyone was celebrating; many creators were left feeling disappointed after not receiving invites to this prestigious event. The awards, held at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, aimed to honor diverse talents and content that populate our feeds. Unfortunately, this vision didn’t include everyone.
One notable voice of discontent was Ellie Peach, a nurse and TikToker with over 130,000 followers. In a heartfelt video, Ellie shared her disappointment: “Tonight I am going to the emergency department to work. I was not invited to the TikTok Awards. I know there’s not a healthcare category, but I still feel upset about it.” Ellie expressed that she had done enough to warrant an invite this year, especially since another male nursing creator, likely Hamish Briggs, was in attendance.
Ellie emphasized the importance of representation, particularly for women in nursing, a predominantly female industry. Other healthcare influencers, including Dr. Katie and Dr. Michael, who boast 314,000 and 453,800 followers respectively, also voiced their disappointments. Dr. Michael, despite receiving an invite last year, lamented that such events often reflect connections rather than merit.
In response to the uproar, Australian media personality Abbie Chatfield joined the conversation, providing a reassuring perspective. She told Ellie, “As someone who has attended every awards night in this country, let me assure you, you’re missing out on nothing. It’s like going to a different school’s graduation ceremony.” Abbie acknowledged the feelings of exclusion but reminded Ellie that the reality of these events often falls short of social media portrayals.
PEDESTRIAN.TV has reached out to TikTok and the awards’ organizers for further comments. Stay tuned for updates!
