– Influencer duo Lunden Stallings and Olivia Bennett faced backlash after racist tweets from Lunden’s past resurfaced during their honeymoon.
– The couple made a 10-minute apology video on TikTok, but it did not stop the online criticism.
– Some people took issue with the video being posted on Stories, and others criticized them for getting married at a wedding venue with ties to a plantation owner.
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Lunden Stallings and Olivia Bennett, a popular influencer couple with a massive TikTok following, found themselves in an unexpected predicament shortly after their wedding. The newlyweds, who were basking in the joy of their marital bliss, were suddenly thrust into a whirlwind of controversy when Lunden’s past racist tweets resurfaced. This unfortunate series of events unfolded just days after their lavish ceremony, which was hailed by fans as the “royal wedding of lesbian TikTok.”
The controversy ignited when screenshots of Lunden’s old tweets containing racial slurs started circulating on Reddit. Although the offensive posts had been deleted, they seemed to date back to as early as the 2010s. Faced with considerable backlash, the couple took to TikTok to release a 10-minute apology video on their Stories, expressing deep regret and shame for Lunden’s past behavior. Lunden emphasized her disgust and stated that she did not intend to ignore or evade the issue, affirming her commitment to address it sincerely.
However, their attempt to reconcile with their audience did not extinguish the online criticism. Some questioned why the apology video was shared on Stories, where posts expire after 24 hours. In addition, others criticized the couple for choosing a wedding venue with historical ties to a plantation owner, further fueling the controversy. Naylor Hall, where the ceremony took place, was built by Barrington King, the son of Roswell King, a prominent figure in the cotton industry and owner of plantations operated by enslaved individuals.
Despite the ongoing backlash, Lunden and Olivia have chosen not to respond publicly to the criticisms surrounding their apology video. It remains to be seen how they will navigate these challenges and rebuild their reputation within the TikTok community and beyond.
