Saagar Kote
Netflix’s ‘Bad Influencer’ deals with the lines of two women who get involved in the dangerous world of counterfeit sales in the streets of Johannesburg. Due to rising debt and threats by loan sharks, a single mother named BK makes a living by making and selling fake luxury bags to rich customers. When BK crosses paths with a social media influencer who calls herself “Qween Pinks,” she realizes that she can probably make more money.
The influencer and the fake bag maker join hands, wherein the former uses her popularity to promote fake bags online and the latter designs the products. Created by Kudakwashe “Kudi” Maradzika, the South African crime drama series delves deep into the challenges faced by the two women as they come across dangerous individuals, law enforcement, and other parties in the process of selling fake bags. The series explores themes of loyalty, survival, crime, friendship, and influencer culture in complex ways.
Bad Influencer is a Fictional Take on Social Media and Crime
‘Bad Influencer’ is primarily focused on the making and selling of counterfeit luxury bags online through the use of social media platforms. Written by the aforementioned creator, along with Daniel Zimbler and Sydney Dire, the series takes a look at the intertwining dangers of crime and technology. Although a fictional story, the world of influencers is presented in a layered and sensitive way through the narrative. The central idea of the story is the way in which vulnerable consumers can be affected by fake marketing. Interestingly, the creator Kudi’s own observations and experiences play a role in the series. Speaking to Glamour, the creator said, “I used to be an aspiring influencer and even got as far as being invited to brand events. But as a journalist by background, I started seeing a fascinating world that’s far more layered than people realise.”
She added, “I entered the Realness X Episodic Lab and pitched the idea, then hired writers and spent 18 months creating this world. ‘Bad Influencer’ explores how social media shapes our identities, our ambitions, and our moral compass, especially in a society obsessed with image.” The ethical questions raised by the show address genuine social issues. The selling of fake bags is not limited to financial gains alone, because the money made in the business is also used for the promotion of guns and drug trafficking. Social morality is examined through the lens of a woman who is desperate to escape poverty. The narrative sheds light on the unusual nexus between crime and social media. Despite the show being set in Johannesburg and examining the social reality of the city, it also explores themes of global relevance. Ultimately, the story dramatizes social reality, while also commenting on morality.
The Series Examines Counterfeiting in South Africa
In ‘Bad Influencer,’ one of the major issues is the distribution and sale of counterfeit luxury bags. Although the show takes creative liberties to make the issue more entertaining for the viewers, it actually comments on the reality of counterfeiting in South Africa. According to a 2025 report from News24, in two separate operations over two days, police in Bloemfontein, South Africa, arrested six foreign nationals and confiscated over 13,000 counterfeit items with an estimated value exceeding 19 million Rand. Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk, a police spokesperson, stated that the seized goods primarily consisted of clothing, shoes, bags, and jewelry, many of which were imitations of high-end luxury brands.
South Africa’s demand for luxury products gives people the opportunity to exploit market conditions and trap individuals into buying fake products. Though the types of counterfeit products are high in number, the series primarily focuses on luxury bags and the precise craftsmanship required to produce a fake one. Another 2025 report from The Citizen looks at the seizure of valuable counterfeit goods worth 20 million Rand by the South African Police Service in Bruma, near Johannesburg. Thirty-five people were arrested during the seizure. The characters and the premise of the show are fictional, but certain elements are grounded in reality. In conclusion, the narrative is a creative portrayal of real issues that affect the people of South Africa.
Qween Pinks is a Fictional Influencer Hustling For Relevance
One of the most important characters in ‘Bad Influencer’ is the social media influencer who calls herself “Qween Pinks.” She gets involved in the dangerous world of fake goods due to her connection with BK. Pinks uses her online popularity as an influencer to market the fake goods produced by BK, ultimately to gain profits. Though the character is fictional, she represents the hustle culture of social media influencers and certain individuals using platforms such as Instagram to sell fake products to their followers. Although the series doesn’t pass moral judgments on hustle culture, it represents a troubling reality related to the social media space.
According to a 2025 report from The Straits Times, in Singapore, the High Court ordered an Instagram seller named Ng Hoe Seng to compensate Louis Vuitton with $200,000 for damages related to counterfeit goods. Ng Hoe Seng used various Instagram accounts to sell counterfeit phone cases, passport covers, cardholders, and purses. These fake goods were marketed as genuine but sold at a reduced price. Qween Pinks reflects this reality, although her character is fictional and is not meant to represent any particular individual.
The creator Kudi, in an interview with Shock, stated, “The show is saying something. Moreover, the show isn’t passing judgment. It’s humanizing the world of social media and the people who occupy this world.” The creator intended to humanize the characters in the show, which includes Qween Pinks as one of the main characters. Ultimately, the show navigates complex social media phenomena through the eyes of Qween Pinks and her character arc.
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