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Influencer Ridicules Couple Online With Security Footage Of Home Tour, They Fire Back With A Lawsuit
Influencer Ridicules Couple Online With Security Footage Of Home Tour, They Fire Back With A Lawsuit
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Influencer Ridicules Couple Online With Security Footage Of Home Tour, They Fire Back With A Lawsuit

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There are so many unbelievable things in life, but one of them would have to be house hunting, opening Instagram to scroll through much later, and then finding that your every movement was recorded, posted, and had garnered lots of likes and comments.

Today’s Original Poster (OP) and her husband were simply trying to find a new home. Instead, they found themselves at the center of an internet frenzy when their house tour was caught on camera by a security camera, and the footage was posted online by the owner of the house who happened to be an influencer.

More info: Reddit

RELATED:

    One minute you’re touring a potential new house, next minute you’re all over Instagram

    Couple holding a model house, appearing thoughtful during a home tour.

    Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    The author and her husband were on the search for a new home, and they found one they liked which needed a few improvements

    Text post about a couple's home tour experience and online shaming, with details about relocating from their starter home.

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    Text from a private home tour discussing renovation potential and architectural preferences.

    Image credits: GoldenPusheen

    Couple viewing a property, unaware of being recorded by the owner during a private home tour, standing on a patio.

    Image credits: priosoad / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    Days after their search, they saw a video of themselves posted by the owner of the house who happened to be an influencer

    Text describing a couple’s home tour secretly recorded and shared, causing embarrassment.

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    Text from a video of a couple being recorded and shamed by a homeowner describes negative remarks about them.

    Image credits: GoldenPusheen

    Woman with child looking at phone by a window, related to private home tour themes.

    Image credits: Gustavo Fring / Freepik (not the actual photo)

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    In the video, the influencer made it seem as though the couple were very critical of the house and called them out for being “mean and nasty”

    Text describing legal action threat over recording, involving a couple and online shaming by owner.

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    Text from a conversation discussing realtors' embarrassment over a home tour incident.

    Text about couple's home tour leading to secret recording and online shaming by owner.

    Image credits: GoldenPusheen

    When the husband called for a cease and desist against the influencers, trolls began to bombard their social media pages

    The OP and her husband were on a hunt for a home they could renovate. They toured a house that seemed promising, except there were quite a number of things that needed to be changed, which is pretty standard behavior when house hunting. However, for the price, it was something they were interested in pursuing.

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    Unbeknownst to them, the home owner was a social media influencer, and here comes the kicker. She took footage from her home security system, edited it to make the couple seem overly critical, and posted it online. The influencer accused them of being “mean and nasty people,” claiming she would never sell to them. Worse, the video clearly showed their faces.

    Determined not to let the situation spiral further, the husband, a lawyer, drafted a cease-and-desist letter demanding the influencer remove the video or face legal consequences. The OP and her husband soon found themselves bombarded with online harassment. The influencer’s followers began targeting them and their businesses, leaving negative comments on the OP’s company webpage and her husband’s law firm’s social media accounts.

    Now, they’re prepared to take legal action; however, with their reputations under siege, the OP and her husband decided to put their house hunt on hold. While their realtor is mortified by the situation, the damage has already been done. Their friends advised them to ignore the drama and wait for it to blow over, but they can’t let it slide.

    Woman on laptop with child playing outside, related to private home tour theme.

    Image credits: Yan Krukau / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    Cyberbullying, as defined by Choosing Therapy, happens when harassment, ridicule, or bullying takes place online, often through social media. It includes spreading false or harmful content to damage someone’s reputation. A major aspect of it is also privacy invasion, such as secretly recording or photographing someone in a private setting.

    Similarly, Skeepers emphasizes that the influencer marketing space is usually a bit more tricky, especially when posting different content is involved. They explain that it requires proper permissions when using intellectual property, including images and personal data. According to them, posting content without consent isn’t just a privacy violation, it can also fuel harassment.

    Beyond social media, privacy concerns extend to real estate transactions. Discover NC Homes points out that while video surveillance may be legal, recording audio without consent often isn’t.

    They advise sellers against recording conversations, as many laws prohibit eavesdropping through electronic devices. At the same time, buyers should assume they are being recorded, even in outdoor areas with doorbell cameras.

    Netizens urged the OP and her husband to take legal action against the influencer as they believe that influencers should be held accountable for their actions. The general consensus was that the couple should not back down, with some encouraging more severe legal steps, like suing the homeowner, realtor, influencer, and even the platform.

    What do you think about this situation? Do you think influencers should be held legally responsible for content that harms others? We would love to hear your thoughts!

    Netizens insist the author and her husband show no mercy to the influencer, pointing out that what she did was criminal

    Text comment supporting someone fiercely confronting a toxic person, gaining online points.

    Reddit comment discussing being secretly recorded during a home tour.

    Comment discussing doxxing and potential court case related to a couple's private home tour incident.

    Reddit comment about legal actions and privacy related to secretly recorded couple.

    Text comment criticizing influencers for being secretly recorded during a private home tour.

    Reddit comment saying "NTA. Defend yourself from this pariah." in response to secretly recorded couple.

    Online shaming post about a couple on a home tour, discussing legal issues of undisclosed cameras during home sale in Florida.

    User comment expressing anger, discussing private home tour incident.

    Text from a forum discussing privacy during home tours and potential legal actions against owners for secret recordings.

    Comment on influencers being shamed, with user expressing anger and calling for action against them.

    Comment on a forum saying 'Hubby's an attorney. Let him deal with it,' relating to a private home tour incident.

    Comment critiquing home shaming and sale decisions.

    Text exchange about legality of security cameras during home tours and potential legal actions.

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    Ifeoluwa Adesina

    Ifeoluwa Adesina

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I'm a writer and bookworm (eyes glued to an e-book, more accurately) who happens to have a suspiciously deep knowledge about pop culture. When I'm not writing, I can most likely be found taking yet another online quiz to find out which soda matches my personality.

    Read less »
    Ifeoluwa Adesina

    Ifeoluwa Adesina

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    I'm a writer and bookworm (eyes glued to an e-book, more accurately) who happens to have a suspiciously deep knowledge about pop culture. When I'm not writing, I can most likely be found taking yet another online quiz to find out which soda matches my personality.

    What do you think ?
    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    9 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sue that bi**h into the next century. "mommy influencer?" 🤮 Wonder if OP can get someone to dig up dirt on that bi**h?

    nm (he/him)
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No mercy, no prisoners. Take everything, even her string.

    Lee Gilliland
    Community Member
    Premium
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sue her to within an inch of her life. Look into an invasion of privacy, defamation of character, libel, slander (was it written in a public forum? I do believe Instagram counts) and a malicious mischief. She could also have her charged with invasive of privacy, which is a civil charge, so get the cops involved. Go nuclear.

    Joanne Wright
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Please sue her. This is unacceptable.

    LooseSeal's $10 Banana
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The very first thing out realtor told us at the very first house we looked at was to not talk it about until we left for just this reason.

    Orysha
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Op and her husband never gave content to be recorded even less be put on social media .Don't threaten, sue her and ruin her life for good.

    CC
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Pushing back on these horrible societal impulses is the best thing we can do right now…people think they can edit and twist and get away with telling whatever story suits their self-serving purpose. Take em down

    Ashtophet’sRevenge
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think it’s hysterical that she chose to do this to a literal lawyer. Do you think she didn’t check? Ugh go get her…

    Load More Comments
    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    9 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sue that bi**h into the next century. "mommy influencer?" 🤮 Wonder if OP can get someone to dig up dirt on that bi**h?

    nm (he/him)
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No mercy, no prisoners. Take everything, even her string.

    Lee Gilliland
    Community Member
    Premium
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sue her to within an inch of her life. Look into an invasion of privacy, defamation of character, libel, slander (was it written in a public forum? I do believe Instagram counts) and a malicious mischief. She could also have her charged with invasive of privacy, which is a civil charge, so get the cops involved. Go nuclear.

    Joanne Wright
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Please sue her. This is unacceptable.

    LooseSeal's $10 Banana
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The very first thing out realtor told us at the very first house we looked at was to not talk it about until we left for just this reason.

    Orysha
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Op and her husband never gave content to be recorded even less be put on social media .Don't threaten, sue her and ruin her life for good.

    CC
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Pushing back on these horrible societal impulses is the best thing we can do right now…people think they can edit and twist and get away with telling whatever story suits their self-serving purpose. Take em down

    Ashtophet’sRevenge
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think it’s hysterical that she chose to do this to a literal lawyer. Do you think she didn’t check? Ugh go get her…

    Load More Comments
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