Hi Michelle,
I’m writing this out of deep disappointment over your Kalshi-sponsored posts on IG and TikTok regarding the World Cup.
To caveat all of this, I know how the internet works. I know influencers get unfairly idolized and are held to high expectations, but there is a difference between expecting perfection and expecting basic accountability, especially when you’re an influencer on a smaller, tight knit scale.
When followers voiced their concerns and disappointment, you asked, “What’s wrong with Kalshi?”. The question felt pretty coy and ignorant, but people did respond in earnest with substantive information on how Kalshi is problematic, predatory, and prohibited in Washington state (or at least being sued by and in litigation with the AG). It felt further dismissive when you disabled comments on those posts and deleted related comments on your other content.
Sweeping this under the rug is disheartening given the platform you’ve built as a Filipina for the Filipino community. Gambling and addiction behaviors are deeply rooted historical problems within our community, and platforms like Kalshi are notoriously predatory toward minoritized groups.
Silencing the very community that supports you is not the move. I will repeat what I said (and several others) in one of the posts that have comments disabled: Get your bag but let’s at least be ethical about it.
Signed,
A disappointed Seattleite
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