Last night, Sydney played host to the 2024 TikTok Awards, an event that promised glitz, glamour, and a celebration of online content creators from Australia and beyond. However, amidst the festivities, many creators were left feeling snubbed as they watched from home without an invite.
Among those voicing their disappointment was Ellie Peach, a nurse with over 130,000 TikTok followers. In a heartfelt video, Ellie expressed her frustration at not being included, stating, “Tonight I am going to the emergency department to work. I was not invited to the TikTok Awards,” and added that she felt she had done enough this year to deserve an invite, especially after noting that a male nursing creator, presumed to be Hamish Briggs with 98,000 followers, was in attendance.
Ellie emphasized the importance of representation for women in nursing, a predominantly female field, at significant events like this. She wasn’t alone in her sentiments, as fellow healthcare creators such as Dr. Katie, who boasts 314,000 followers, and Dr. Michael with 453,800 followers, also expressed their dismay at the lack of inclusivity.
Dr. Michael, who received an invite last year, highlighted the notion that such awards often depend on personal connections rather than merit, stating, “when it comes to this sort of stuff it’s who you know, not who you are.”
In response to the situation, media personality Abbie Chatfield, who has attended every awards night in Australia, reached out to Ellie with some comforting words. She suggested that missing the event might not be a loss, likening it to attending a different school’s graduation. Abbie reminded Ellie that the reality of these awards often doesn’t match the glamorous portrayal on social media.
“When you’re not at the awards tonight, don’t sit there thinking that everyone is having this amazing time,” she advised. “There is this huge gap in between the expectation of what I know and how that would be, and what the reality is.”
As the night unfolded, it served as a reminder of the ongoing conversation around representation and recognition within the creator community, sparking discussions on how platforms like TikTok can better acknowledge diverse voices in their celebrations.
