This is one of those grab-your-blue-light glasses, crack-your-neck-&-knuckles, overdose-on-espresso internet dives. We’re here to talk about a strange web phenomenon that all started with an article posted in The Cut.
If this were last week, you’d probably have no clue who Caroline Calloway was. If you still don’t, I’ll assume you were clocked in the head sometime before Tuesday and haven’t been able to look at a computer screen since. Quick update: Caroline Calloway was a low-level influencer with about 800K followers whose world blew up when her former friend and coworker claimed that she had ghostwritten most of Calloway’s curated insta-life.
On Tuesday, Sept. 10th 2019 PST, the world of influencers was forever changed. OK, that might be a tad dramatic, but on Tuesday there was a definite shift in the influencer force. That’s when Natalie Beach published an article in The Cut titled “I Was Caroline Calloway: Seven years after I met the infamous Instagram star, I’m ready to tell my side of the story.” The story alleges that Calloway’s online presence was curated by Beach, and goes on to expose Calloway’s struggles with depression and substance abuse. It also portrays what Beach claims to be an extremely toxic relationship between the two former best friends and coworkers.
The article in The Cut went massively viral, and honestly, the whole situation makes me feel vaguely slimy. And the more I research the story, the weirder I feel about it. Give it a week and I bet Beach and Calloway will let us now they’ve both profited nicely from this newfound notoriety, thank you very much, and that they had planned it all together from the start.
You really should read the full article–it’s fascinating and really well-written. But since it’s pretty long, here’s a summary of the characters to get you up to speed.
CAROLINE CALLOWAY: Before Tuesday, Caroline Calloway was a (relatively) unknown influencer with under 1 million instagram followers. She posted typical travel photos, but her lengthy story-like captions were what set her apart from other insta stars. Each offered an in-depth peek into Calloway’s ultra-luxe life. Much like a typical influencer, her photos were a mix of her personal art, gourmet meals, friends and various boyfriends, and of course, travel.
Calloway was no stranger to scandal before the article dropped. She had been working on a book deal that she claimed sold for an advance of $500,000. But when the book deal fell through, Calloway said that what she had pitched was no longer authentic and she didn’t feel right completing it. It’s an autobiography, I’m confused about how you pitch something incorrect about your own life? Sure, Jan. Calloway also had herself a mini-Fyre Fest scandal–this January, she announced that she would be selling tickets for $165 to a workshop where fans could pretty much just learn how to be themselves on social media. Well, to absolutely no one’s surprise, she sold the tickets before she actually planned the events, and ended up having to cancel most of them. At the events in NYC that did actually happen, reports say attendees were fed barely-dressed lettuce as they sat on the ground. Oooooook.
NATALIE BEACH: Beach and Calloway met in 2013 when they were both attending classes at NYU. According to Beach, they hit it off immediately. Beach was immediately drawn to Calloway’s addictive personality and they would spend hours together writing, adventuring, and just being friends. For Calloway’s part, Beach claims she was obsessed with Yale and liked Beach for her connections in the area. Overall, v weird basis for a friendship.
Beach’s exposé is a strange one. Not only does it come nearly seven years after the women met, but it focuses a lot of attention on the mental health of both women. Beach claims that the lengthy captions Calloway is known for were mostly of Beach’s creation, and moreover, that the book advance (of which she did not receive her promised sum for helping Calloway write) was closer to $375,000. She also claims the book wasn’t published not because of ‘lack of authenticity,’ but because Calloway was so strung out on drugs she couldn’t finish it.
Guys….I’m confused. I have so many questions for both of them. Here is my running list:
Natalie–why now?? Why did you wait seven years? Why did you feel the need to publish this at all? Have you gained followers? Are you really still this butt-hurt over not being credited in captions? Have you talked to Caroline at all? Are you in therapy? Do you need a therapist recommendation?? Is this just a ploy to make yourself famous? Was that your goal all along? If not, what is your goal?
Caroline–First of all, ARE YOU GOOD?? Why have you posted 100 times (literally) about this article since Tuesday? Why are you promoting the article? Are YOU seeing a therapist? (Apparently yes). Have you gained followers in the past few days? Is everything true?? Did you know about it and are using this for a fame boost? And WHY ARE YOU POSTING ABOUT IT SO MUCH??
And my final question…WHAT THE EVER-LIVING FUCK, INTERNET????
