Last night in Sydney, content creators gathered for the 2024 TikTok Awards, but not everyone was celebrating. Many influencers, including nurse Ellie Peach, voiced their frustration over not receiving invites to the prestigious event. Ellie, who has over 130,000 followers, expressed her disappointment in a video, stating, “Tonight I am going to the emergency department to work. I was not invited to the TikTok Awards.” She felt she had built enough of an audience this year to merit an invitation, especially since a male nursing creator, seemingly Hamish Briggs with 98,000 followers, was invited. Ellie emphasized the importance of female representation in the nursing field at events like this, stating, “I think it’s important that there are women in these spaces.” Other healthcare professionals, including Dr. Katie and Dr. Michael, also shared their discontent, with Dr. Michael noting that invitations are often based on connections rather than merit. Australia’s media personality Abbie Chatfield chimed in, advising Ellie not to be too upset, as awards nights often don’t live up to the hype seen on social media. “Imagine you go to a different school’s graduation ceremony, that’s the energy it gives,” she explained. While the night was meant to celebrate the diverse content on TikTok, it also highlighted the feelings of exclusion felt by many creators. PEDESTRIAN.TV has reached out to TikTok for comments on the situation, hoping for a response soon.
