In today’s digital age, social media influencers are often perceived as living lavish lifestyles, enjoying brand deals, and earning substantial incomes. However, the reality is far from this perception for many content creators, as not every influencer secures consistent earnings.
One such case is Afiq, a Malaysian TikToker with over 730,000 followers, who recently faced unexpected criticism for working as a Grab rider. While picking up a food order, he was recognized by a diner who was surprised to see him working a delivery job.
“She asked me, ‘Aren’t you the TikToker Cicak?’ I said yes, and then she asked, ‘You’re doing Grab? But you’re famous on TikTok, right?’” Afiq recalled.
At first, he casually explained that he was working part-time to earn extra income. However, instead of accepting his response, the woman seemed amused and laughed about it with her friends.
“She said, ‘Aren’t influencers on TikTok supposed to be rich?’” Afiq admitted that while he takes pride in earning an honest living, the reaction stung. He shared that, despite his social media presence, he still needs to work part-time to support himself.
“I have a name, I have TikTok, but I still work Grab. Sometimes, I do feel embarrassed when people say things like that, but what can I do? If I don’t have money, I just work part-time with Grab,” he said.
The assumption that having a large following automatically translates into financial success is a common misconception. In reality, not every influencer lands lucrative brand deals, and opportunities in the industry can be unpredictable.
Speaking to mStar, Afiq explained that he has been working as a food rider for two years because social media gigs are not always steady.
“I don’t mind working for Grab, but when people laugh at the job, I feel ashamed. Many assume that because I have a lot of followers, I must be rich. But in reality, a Grab rider can earn RM200 to RM300 a day,” he shared.
Afiq continues to juggle both his content creation and food delivery work, acknowledging that review jobs exist but are becoming harder to secure.
“I do Grab part-time while waiting for review jobs. The jobs exist, but they’re getting harder to secure,” he said.
Despite the criticism, Afiq remains grounded and has a message for those who judge others based on their occupation.
“No matter how many followers someone has, they’re still just a regular person. It doesn’t matter what job they do, as long as it’s honest work.”
His story serves as a reminder that social media fame doesn’t always equate to financial stability, and what truly matters is earning an honest living, regardless of the profession.
Information Source: WeirdKaya
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