Ex-Big Brother star accuses ‘party girl influencers' of secretly struggling with substance abuse while glamorizing lifestyle
A viral social media storm has erupted after Perth-raised podcaster and former Big Brother star Julia Rangiheuea, 31, accused some of the most popular 'party girl influencers' of secretly struggling with substance abuse issues, while glamorizing the very lifestyle that nearly ruined her own life.
Rangiheuea, who shares her sobriety journey as @recoveringpartygirl on social media and hosts the podcast 'Soberly Speaking,' says she was 'deep in addiction' until January 2023, when, with just $29 to her name, she made the decision to go sober.
She now uses her platform to shed light on the harsh reality of addiction, and in her latest video, which has amassed over 2.1 million views, she pulled no punches.
'PSA, your favorite party girl influencers all have crazy substance abuse problems,' she claimed, later repeating for emphasis, 'Crazy substance abuse problems.'
7 Julia Rangiheuea, a popular sobriety advocate, has made a shocking claim about the reality of 'party girl influencers' – and the internet is divided.
tiktok.com/@juliarangiheuea
She added that these influencers 'use their fat paychecks entirely on partying' and therefore, are often broke.
The ex-reality star also suggested that the 'doing it for the plot' or 'Brat Summer Party Girl 365' narrative popularized online and promoted by these influencers isn't just harmless fun, but potentially dangerous.
As someone who couldn't socialize for 15 years without the use of alcohol or drugs, she said alarm bells are often raised for her when she hears how some of these influencers speak about alcohol.
'I just want you to think about the way these people talk about socializing without alcohol and how negatively they talk about it, or how their life, if you really look at it, does revolve around substances,' she says.
7 'PSA, your favorite party girl influencers all have crazy substance abuse problems,' she claimed, later repeating for emphasis, 'Crazy substance abuse problems.'
Monkey Business – stock.adobe.com
Anticipating backlash, she admitted, 'I'm sorry to be that girl, but I had to bring it up.'
The response was immediate.
Many users chimed in to support her, with one noting, 'It quite literally is the early 2000s all over again.'
Another added, 'A lot of people are actually alcoholics and don't realise it, because it's so normalised.'
7 She added that these influencers 'use their fat paychecks entirely on partying' and therefore, are often broke.
Bohdan – stock.adobe.com
Some commenters also criticized influencers more broadly, especially health or wellness ones, for promoting an aspirational lifestyle while drinking heavily behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, some hit back at Rangiheuea, saying she was overreacting and that not everyone who drinks has a problem.
'God forbid a girl has fun – not everyone is an addict,' quipped one.
'Just because the poster had an addition problem, doesn't mean all girls who like to party do,' replied another user.
7 The ex-reality star also suggested that the 'doing it for the plot' or 'Brat Summer Party Girl 365' narrative was popularized online.
Jacob Lund – stock.adobe.com
As the video gained traction, followers began tagging high-profile people such as American content creator Alix Earle, singer Charli XCX, and business owners Lucy Jackson and Nikki Westcott, who co-host the podcast 'Happy Hour with Lucy and Nikki.'
News.com.au is not suggesting that any of these women have substance abuse issues.
Jackson, one of those tagged, quickly addressed the situation in her own video.
'(Rangiheuea) is saying that your favorite party girl influencers all have massive substance abuse problems,' she said. 'Firstly, (that) is a huge assumption and, secondly, a huge projection.
@lucykatejackson28
I start to ramble at the end but please guys just be mindful to not be part of the problem❤️ Also any negative comment about any other creators under this video will be deleted! ♬ original sound – Lucy Jackson
'Obviously, she struggled with some really big addiction problems, which is awful. But that's your journey, not everyone else's.'
Jackson, who co-owns the fashion label Jagger & Stone with Westcott, then defended her lifestyle, insisting that she and her pal don't have substance abuse problems and are 'not broke.'
'We run successful businesses. We have a very well-balanced life,' she insisted.
She then urged her followers to think twice before commenting on others' videos, potentially defaming someone without any evidence.
7 'I just want you to think about the way these people talk about socializing without alcohol and how negatively they talk about it, or how their life, if you really look at it, does revolve around substances,' Rangiheuea says.
Pixel-Shot – stock.adobe.com
'As women, we are so quick to attack each other,' she said. 'We need to be so careful with the content we are consuming to make sure that we are only taking in genuine facts of information.'
Her video received a lot of praise, most notably from fellow influencer Abbie Chatfield, who commented: 'It's so exhausting people making false narratives because they THINK they know you from the content you post!
'It's also wild to me that people see other people tag you in comments and then they think it's true …? Because someone else tagged it…?'
For her part, Rangiheuea told news.com.au her goal was to spark a broader conversation, not to single out individual people.
7 Many users chimed in to support her, with one noting, 'It quite literally is the early 2000s all over again.'
Grady R/peopleimages.com – stock.adobe.com
'My intention was never to attack a specific person, but to start a conversation about a broader issue I see again and again online,' she said.
'Party influencers will broadcast (and therefore monetize) binge drinking multiple nights a week. They'll openly glamorize benders, which often involves staying up all night, taking drugs like cocaine.
'When someone is consistently using substances like this, it's worth asking if they're in control of it, or if it's controling them.'
She believes that for many people, seeing excessive drinking and drug use glamorized online creates 'huge pressure' to keep up or risk feeling left out.
7 Some hit back at Rangiheuea, saying she was overreacting and that not everyone who drinks has a problem.
pressmaster – stock.adobe.com
'Normalizing harmful behaviors like this can lead people into addiction before they even realize what's happening. Personally, that constant celebration of the party lifestyle made it so much harder for me to recognize my own addiction.
'As a society, we won't make meaningful progress on the drug and alcohol crisis, or its devastating effects, unless we honestly reflect on our own relationship with substances.
'The second we make these conversations about personal attacks, we derail the opportunity for real progress.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Save the Dates: Mormon Wives Reunion Special, Stephen King's The Institute Premiere and More
Can #MomTok survive a Secret Lives of Mormon Wives reunion? We're going to find out later this summer. Hulu announced Thursday that the first-ever Mormon Wives reunion special will drop on the streamer Tuesday, July 1. Bachelor-verse veteran Nick Viall will host the post-Season 2 event, which will 'uncover secrets and scandals, never-before-seen footage and a surprise announcement,' according to the official logline. More from TVLine Project Runway Sets July Premiere Date for New Season on Freeform - Watch Teaser Big Brother to Return in July for 'Biggest Season Ever' (With Friday Episodes!) - Get Premiere Date The Office Spinoff Gets Official Title and Premiere Month at Peacock - Plus, Oscar Returns in First Photo! The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was previously renewed, back in October 2024, for 20 additional episodes; the 10-episode second season dropped in full on May 15, leaving 10 episodes still to air on a yet-to-be-announced date. In other recent scheduling news… * MGM+'s series adaptation of Stephen King's novel The Institute — starring Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds), Ben Barnes (Shadow and Bone) and newcomer Joe Freeman — premieres Sunday, July 13, at 9/8c. The thriller follows teen genius Luke Ellis (Freeman), who is kidnapped and awakens at The Institute, a facility full of children who all possess unusual abilities. * The Real Housewives of Orange County returns for Season 19 with a super-sized premiere on Thursday, July 10, at 9/8c on Bravo. Shannon Storms Beador, Heather Dubrow, Tamra Judge, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson, Jennifer Pedranti and Katie Ginella all will be back for the new episodes. * Comedian Conan O'Brien will make his first appearance as a guest on NBC's Late Night With Seth Meyers on Wednesday, June 11. * Season 1 of The Gold — which is inspired by the true story of the 1983 Brink's-Mat robbery that took place in London, and which already aired on BBC and streamed on Paramount+ — will air on PBS starting Sunday, Oct. 5, at 10/9c. Best of TVLine 'Missing' Shows, Found! Get the Latest on Ahsoka, Monarch, P-Valley, Sugar, Anansi Boys and 25+ Others Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More
Hypebeast
a day ago
- Hypebeast
Niontay: Underground Rap's Rockstar
Niontayneeds no introduction — his early-career co-signs say it all. At just 26 years old, the 10K rapper has garnered support and collaborations fromEarl SweatshirtandMIKE, the latter of whom has played a key role in the kickstart of the rapper's uprising from the confines of the East Coast underground. 'MIKE put a battery in my back before I even released music,' Niontay told Hypebeast, the pair boasting five studio tracks as a unit. Now, with two studio albums under his belt — fresh off the release ofFada<3of$at the end of April — the Milwaukee-born, Florida-raised, Brooklyn-based rapper has established a tight-knit, symbiotic network of creative collaborators, includingMAVIandSideshowwithTony Seltzeron production. What he hasn't established, per se, is a signature sound — because he doesn't necessarily want to. 'I don't think I'll ever make two albums that sound entirely the same,' he shared, explaining that he doesn't approach writing in a routine, structural way at all. Sometimes the first four bars he spits land perfectly as the hook, while in others, the final verse comes first. All the while, he ponders: 'What even is structure in a song anymore?' When the rapper pulled up to the Hypebeast studio, he donned a custom dark denim zip-up work jacket with 'Sex after church' embroidered on the back of the silhouette. That's the rapper's producer's name, and his original artist name that he ended up changing after deciding it was too raunchy. He still wanted to keep it for something, so it's still his Instagram name and producer tag, though not an alias. That's where lil peanutbutter comes in. A listed featured artist onFada<3of$,peanutbutter delivers some of bars on Tay's favorite track on the album 'Stuntin' like my baba,' taking a higher-pitched voice than the rapper's typical persona. With his primed production background and peanutbutter in tow, Niontay's come-up is in progress, and we're privy to it live. We're just over a month off from the release ofFada<3of$– how are you feeling? I'm feeling good. I'm happy with the reception. I think the release party was what really showed me the impact the project had and put that in perspective for me. People coming up to me and telling me they f*cked with it and that they bought the vinyl. Sh*t's not cheap. How has your connection with MIKE impacted your career? It would have taken me so much longer to figure it all out and get to where I am today if I didn't know MIKE. He opened so many doors for me. I'll tell him that forever. He put a battery in my back before I even released music. While I was in my head, he was just reassuring me like 'You got it. Don't even trip.' When did you first start making music? I started playing around with making music in 2015 when I was 16. I downloaded this platform called Mixpad. You could record yourself and make beats on it – kinda Ableton-ish. When did you drop the first piece of music that you felt good about? Probably in 2019. That was when I started dropping sh*t that I didn't feel bad about telling people to listen to and saying 'I'm a rapper.' Who is Sexafterchurch (your producer alias) in relation to Niontay and your credited alter ego, lil peanutbutter? Sexafterchurch isn't really an alias. It was my artist name at first, but then I decided to change it because it felt a little too raunchy. People were like 'We f*ck with bro, but he should change his name.' So I changed my name. But it's still my Instagram name, so I wanted to keep it for something. lil peanutbutter is my alter ego. How do you know when you want to tap into lil peanutbutter? It's really all about the subject matter. I just think about who would be the better rapper to deliver the lyrics. 'I feel like a real rockstar.' What was your mindset going into building this album? Honestly, I wasn't thinking about it too hard. I wasn't trying to make an album. That wasn't the goal. I was just making music. I didn't put that pressure on myself of 'Every song has to be for the album.' After about two years, I ended up with a bunch of songs, and I finally started going through all of them. I knew certain ones had to be on the album, like 'Top da top' and 'mumbleman.' I played the rest for the homies and got their input, and that's how I made the album. Did you ever feel pressure to drop a project? Toward the end of the two years. I started getting on myself more like, 'Tighten up. Drop. You got all this music. Put it all together. Come on.' So I finally did. How do you approach the writing process? It depends. Sometimes, I hear a beat, and I know the first four bars I say will be the hook. Other times, it'll just be whatever I'm feeling. What even is 'structure' in a song anymore? You hear rappers rap what you think is the hook, but it's really the verse, and then you think it's finally the hook, but it's still the first verse. How would you describe this album in relation toDiontay's inferno? Diontay's Infernowas me finding myself. I think n*ggas like it a lot because it's so raw. I was playing with a lot of different sounds. But this album is me coming in as a more established artist and acknowledging that, like, 'Iaman artist, let me speak more clearly. Let me put more energy into this verse.' Overall, it's just a more polished project. I don't think I'll ever make two albums that sound entirely the same. Why didn't you choose to produce the entire project? I thought about producing the whole thing but there are too many good ass producers out right now who I wanted on there – MIKE, Harrison, Tony Seltzer, WTFOMARI!, Evilgiane. Something unique about this project is the inclusion of speaking parts as interludes or added onto the end of tracks. Could you say more on this? On '32ummers,' that's my mom talking at the end. That's her funny ass. The rest of the album's interludes come from videos I like on YouTube. The one on 'FULLCOURTPRESSHA' comes from this old gangster documentary I watched in London with Omari. Where else do you draw inspiration from? I really admire the way rockstars carry themselves. I feel like a real rockstar. I draw a lot of inspiration from the golden age of rock n' roll, like Ozzy Osbourne. I try to keep that mindset when I approach designing my merch and my live performances. What's next for you? 10K is gonna have a crazy year. MIKE's got 30 tapes ready to go, so how can I not be ready to go myself?
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
Leah Remini addresses rumored feud with JLo: 'Friendships ebb and flow'
Leah Remini addresses rumored feud with JLo: 'Friendships ebb and flow' Show Caption Hide Caption Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck separated in April: Reports Jennifer Lopez filed to divorce Ben Affleck on the two-year anniversary of their Georgia wedding ceremony. Their romance dates back to 2002. Leah Remini is addressing feud rumors with Jennifer Lopez. In an Us Weekly cover story this week, the "King of Queens" alum suggested that there are highs and lows with JLo, her once-best friend. "Sometimes you don't talk to people every day like you used to, but that doesn't mean the love is lost," Remini added. "Friendships ebb and flow. That doesn't mean we're at odds." But Remini said that "right after the divorce, we'd text each other loving messages of support" in reference to her friend's divorce from actor Ben Affleck and her own split from Angelo Pagán last year. Tabloid feud rumors surfaced after Remini was absent from Bennifer's 2022 wedding in Georgia. The pair have been friends for over two decades. Leah Remini announces split from husband Angelo Pagán after 21 years "I cherish my friendships and not everybody is meant to be in your life in the way that they were. When you grow out of that person that you were, that doesn't mean that you are at odds with them," Remini said. "I have many friends that I don't talk to every day. That doesn't mean we're at odds – it's just that I'm at a different place and so are they." She also discussed her friendships with her former "The Talk" co-hosts Holly Robinson Peete and Julie Chen Moonves, the "Big Brother" host's husband and embattled former CBS executive Les Moonves, "RuPaul's Drag Race" judge Michelle Visage, comedian Chelsea Handler and actress Tisha Campbell. Remini noted, too, that she has friendships with people "that are not in the business that are also meaningful." The actress famously disavowed Scientology 12 years ago and told the entertainment outlet that she is in a "in a different place" since leaving the controversial belief system. "I really retreated (after leaving Scientology)," Remini told Us. "But also not really wanting to leave the house that much. I started to come out a bit but was still careful and cautious." The "Dancing with the Stars" alum may throw caution to the wind in one place: the ballroom. She detailed her ballroom dancing hobby, shouting out her former pro, Tony Dovolani, from the dancing competition show. "Tony Dovolani made me a fan," she said of her "DWTS" partner. "I kept it going. And then my dance teacher became part of the family. He came over yesterday, brought my mom flowers. This, to me, means something. It's a meaningful relationship."
