Wait, what?
A new mural in Los Angeles has caused controversy online after it was claimed that only social media influencers could pose in front of it.
In fact, there’s a few conditions that anyone hoping to pose in front of the art wall needs to follow.
Anyone hoping for a chance to pose for a photo needs to have a verified Twitter account or more than 20,000 Instagram followers, according to a poster beside it.
There’s also a security guard who checks potential photographers and their accounts.
Today we are so excited to debut the beautiful mural we curated in the heart of the LA art scene. Come down and check it out. Unfortunately the mural is currently for verified influencers and people with over 20k followers only. However it may be public soon. Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/CRIzqaAhX8
— Like and Subscribe (@likeandsub) June 25, 2018
The sign reads:
“We apologize for the inconvenience. See security staff for proof and access.”
It also shares two social media handles: @likeandsubscribe on Instagram, as well as @likeandsub on Twitter.
Both of the accounts are pretty empty, with the Instagram one having just three posts: two black squares, with another promising that something is going to be unveiled on July 9.
Some photos of what lies behind the white sheet have made their way onto social media.
There’s a new security-guarded mural in LA that only allows influencers and verifieds to take pics in front of it. pic.twitter.com/PDlLJ9C0DI
— justin caffier (@JustinCaffier) June 25, 2018
Many people have begun to question whether or not it is some kind of marketing stunt, while others are just annoyed about the whole thing.
Hello @likeandsub I am #influencing pic.twitter.com/m88SOD5zMI
— Peter Freese (@pjfreese) June 25, 2018
It’s an ad for a show about social media & influencers I think, and they’re using influencers to advertise it—if you go to the page that’s written on the poster, you’ll see
— Gabriela Vieira (@YoGabbaGabster) June 25, 2018
It's a publicity stunt/ad.
But, dang. Looks like they need the exposure. pic.twitter.com/2LxCVVH6Dc— KattyAnne (@katmc68) June 25, 2018
This kinda feels like that one black mirror episode… https://t.co/Bp9Sz8gOWK
— Obi’s Lens? (@EriKonstantine) June 26, 2018
There is a security- guarded mural in #LA that only let’s verified influencers and people with 20k followers take a photo in front of it. Whyyyyy?!? pic.twitter.com/g0ysCiEFhc
— Kevin Galliford (@KallMeKG) June 26, 2018
ITS NOT EVEN A GOOD MURAL
— Rachel Mayes (@RachDickMay) June 25, 2018
Other people pointed out that the whole situation may have been to promote an upcoming series called, well…Like & Subscribe.
Either this is :
A) a banksy stunt
B) promo for this #likeandsubscribe July 9th premier
C) some LA shit
D) social experimentNonetheless the best way to identify who are the idiots falling for it https://t.co/Y0AB9j5aCZ
— ?? FADIA KADER (@FADIA) June 26, 2018
I did some research and this is actually brilliant marketing for a new Tv show…. all these influencers are posting photos of them in front of the mural flexing to their followers for free; instead of having the tv show pay them to advertise it. GENIUS https://t.co/Ao51l7GnYg
— Gløria |-/ (@corralesgloria7) June 26, 2018
Everyone getting mad over the stupid mural should know this:
1) Yes it’s dumb
2) it’s literally a promo for what seems to be a new TV show @likeandsub
3) promo seems to be working since there’s no such thing as bad publicity— star stuff (@imnotnicolle) June 26, 2018
after 30 seconds of research I’m 99% sure the mural is an ad/viral campaign for @DILLONFRANCIS new tv show
— goth chrissy teigen (@d4rth_vixen) June 26, 2018