Woman Says Influencer Refused a Selfie Unless She Paid: "There's Not Enough Room"

A TikTok user named Caraline (@caraline23) says she approached an influencer she recognized after moving to San Diego, complimented her, and asked for advice on growing her own account. The conversation took a turn when the influencer suggested people followed her because of her looks, and told Caraline she couldn’t post a photo with her without paying, claiming there’s“not enough room”in the industry for everyone.

Caraline shared the encounter in a video that pulled in 88,100 likes. She declined to name the influencer, saying she didn’t want to send hate her way. The comment section, meanwhile, rallied around Caraline, comparing her to actress Emma Watson and encouraging her to turn her influencer run-ins into a recurring San Diego series.

The story has people debating whether charging for fan photos is smart business or just plain cold, and whether influencer culture has gotten too competitive for its own good. So we want to hear from you: have you ever had an awkward run-in with someone you recognized from the internet? Tell us in the comments.