Naman Shrestha
In Netflix’s ‘Bad Influencer,’ we get acquainted with a single mother and a con artist named BK, who has a son with special needs and a significant amount of debt to her name. In order to provide for him and clear her dues, she decides to join forces with Pinky, a self-obsessed luxury influencer. The two women become partners and begin selling counterfeit designer handbags online, unaware that it would catch the unwanted attention of criminals and law enforcement. Not long after their business starts booming, Bra Alex, a criminal in a counterfeiting syndicate, takes notice and decides to take action against the duo.
On top of that, more trouble brews for BK and Pinky as even the police begin to question their counterfeit business. Besides keeping their business running, the two women must also find a way to get the better of the criminal and stay out of prison. The South African crime drama series is created by Kudi Maradzika and features a talented ensemble cast comprising Jo-Anne Reyneke, Cindy Mahlangu, Thapelo Mokoena, Vincent Mahlape-Sekuba, and Mpilo Shabalala. The story unfolds in and around Johannesburg, South Africa, highlighting the posh as well as criminal side of the city.
Bad Influencer Filming Locations
‘Bad Influencer’ is reportedly filmed in its entirety in South Africa, especially in the city of Johannesburg. From what we can tell, principal photography for the inaugural iteration of the crime series got underway around November 2024 and went on for a couple of months before seemingly wrapping up by the end of December of the same year. Soon after the conclusion of the shooting process, Jo-Anne Reyneke, who portrays BK, shared a few words about her experience on set. She stated, “Feeling accomplished and proud. This shoot was not easy, but THAT is what made it Beautiful and Worth While.”
Johannesburg, South Africa
Staying true to the setting, the production team conducted the filming of ‘Bad Influencer’ in and around Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa. Located in the heart of the country, the capital of the Gauteng province is a prominent filming destination and proved ideal for doubling as the shooting spot for the crime drama. Creator Kudi Maradzika expressed that the team had an incredible time shooting in the locales of Johannesburg and other nearby areas. Shedding light on it in an interview with The Mail & Guardian, the Zimbabwean-born personality said, “The city has such visual depth; we wanted to capture that energy in a way audiences hadn’t seen before.”
To ensure authenticity in both the writing and its presentation on the screen, the team collaborated with several professionals in the field. By gaining insights from luxury bag experts, social media influencers, and professionals in child psychology, they were able to add an extra layer of realism while painting the canvas of the Netflix production. Furthermore, to get a deep understanding of the environment the characters inhabit in the story, Kudi visited the off-the-grid, underground market areas of Johannesburg. Through drone footage, the team captured the gritty charm of the underground space as well as the vibrant energy of the cityscape, ranging from the skyline to the bustling streets.
Kudi further shared that one of the highlights of the production was taping an electrifying action scene under the night sky. At the same time, she also opened up about the challenges they faced while visualizing the story’s multi-dimensional world for the screen. However, the hard work and unwavering determination of the cast and crew members, along with the support from the production company, Gambit Films, made the process seamless. Stressing the cooperation of the latter, Kudi stated, “They have incredible execution experience from shows like Unseen and Blood & Water, and we worked together to bring the young, vibrant tone of the story world to life.” Over the years, the City of Gold has aided in the filming of several shows and movies, including ‘Queen Sono,’ ‘Dredd,’ ‘Money Monster,’ ‘I Am All Girls,’ ‘Kite,’ ‘Dangerous Ground,’ and ‘Shadow.’
Read More: Is Bad Influencer a True Story? Is Qween Pinks Based on a Real Influencer?
