Aussie wellness influencer apologises for 'tone-deaf' video downplaying fuel crisis

A wellness influencer has come under fire after a clip surfaced where she appeared to downplay the impact of soaring fuel prices, outraging scores of everyday Aussies struggling to fill up at the bowser.

The backlash comes as a geopolitical crisis in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted global supply chains, pushing petrol prices to record highs.

Georgie Stevenson, 32, has built a sizeable online following through her wellness and business content, and is the co-founder of multiple ventures.

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The controversy centred on a short video that was not shared to her main Instagram profile, but instead surfaced in the feeds of non-followers as part of a "trial reel" – a feature used by creators and brands to test how content performs before rolling it out more widely.

In the clip, Stevenson was seen sipping an iced coffee alongside a caption that contrasted people struggling with rising fuel prices with those who "build their own success, co-own three companies and buy a Porsche at 28."

The messaging quickly spread beyond its intended test audience, drawing criticism from viewers who took issue with the post amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures.

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"Seriously... read the room. Calling people 'complainers' while they are funding your lifestyle is wild. Go touch some grass," one wrote.

Another scathed: "A full [tank] of petrol for a family size car is up to $250+ for some families. That's the difference between putting food on the table and paying rent."

"Some people complain because they literally have to choose between fuel and groceries. But hey, at least being delusional is free – that we CAN afford!" another added.

As the reaction grew, Stevenson addressed the situation, explaining the video had been uploaded by a marketing agency working on her behalf as part of a trial.

"You're right to call this out," she wrote. "I'm really sorry.

"This was posted without my approval from an external content creator who has been creating trial reels for me, but that doesn't excuse it being on my page."

She said trial reels are not visible on a creator's profile and are instead distributed to new audiences to gauge performance without impacting overall engagement metrics.

Stevenson acknowledged the message missed the mark and apologised, agreeing it came across as tone-deaf given the broader economic climate.

"I understand how tone deaf it was, especially given what people are dealing with right now and I take full responsibility for that," she concluded.

Stevenson issued another apology on her Instagram stories on Monday night.

"The messaging behind the post completely missed the mark, and it was out of touch and incredibly insensitive," she wrote.

"However, catching it was my job and I failed to do so. I took action to remove it.

Stevenson explained this happened after she returned from maternity leave and was trying to find new systems and processes to work.

"I build businesses and create content to support and uplift my community, so I feel so disappointed that this was posted on my page. I would never want someone to feel hurt or less than, so I am deeply sorry.

"I'm conscious this might seem like just another apology post from an influencer.. but please know that this has been a wake-up call, and something like this will never happen again.

"Feedback is great for growth, and I'll continue to listen, respond and learn along the way.

The video has since been removed.

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