Is Natalie Reynolds Faking Empty Fan Events for Publicity?
In the world of social media, it’s getting harder to tell what’s real and what’s just another attempt to grab attention. A perfect example is the latest buzz around influencer Natalie Reynolds.
A video of her looking heartbroken because no one showed up to her meet-and-greet has gone viral, but many are questioning whether it’s genuine or another calculated stunt. Natalie Reynolds has built her reputation on creating content that gets people fired up.
She’s been labeled the queen of ‘rage bait’ - online posts meant to stir outrage or anger just to get views and shares. Over the past few years, she’s become a familiar face on platforms like TikTok and Instagram for her outrageous antics and emotional videos.
But as her fame has grown, so have questions about how authentic her videos really are. This isn’t the first time Reynolds’ emotional outbursts have sparked debate. In one memorable incident, she was caught crying outside a social media company’s Los Angeles office, begging on the phone for her account to be reinstated.
Even back then, people were split on whether they were seeing a real breakdown or a performance designed to win sympathy and go viral. Her most shocking moment, however, came in May 2024.
Reynolds, infamous for shocking stunts, is now going viral again with videos of her upset at empty meet-and-greets.
She filmed herself offering $20 to a woman, believed to be homeless, if she would jump into a lake. The woman declined, saying she couldn’t swim.
The video sparked outrage, with many calling it exploitative and heartless. But despite the backlash, Reynolds kept gaining followers, showing just how well controversy can pay off in the world of social media.
Now, Reynolds’ latest video has the internet talking again. It was posted four days ago by the TikTok account @nick.marchand5, which seems completely dedicated to following Reynolds around and filming her.
This account has shared clips of her standing at various locations for supposed meet-and-greets, usually with a security guard by her side. In every video, she looks visibly upset, and in some, she’s seen talking on the phone as if venting her frustration that no one showed up.
InstagramWhat’s interesting is how perfectly these videos seem designed to keep Reynolds in the spotlight. The account has posted ten different videos of these awkward meet-and-greets in different places, and together, they’ve racked up an eye-popping 51.8 million views.
That’s a huge number of eyeballs on content that some suspect is completely staged. Scrolling through the comments, it’s clear that many viewers don’t believe Reynolds is genuinely upset. Instead, they see the videos as a smart way to keep her name trending.
"I love you Natalie it’s okay❤️"
One person summed up the mood perfectly, writing,
“Y’all plsss this is literally all just marketing, it’s all set up to give her more attention, a publicity stunt if you will. Of course, she knows she’s hated and she’s using it for her gain.”Another commenter pointed out suspicious details that hint at a setup.
“Upon closer inspection, I think this might be a marketing stunt. The entire thing. Just look at this account for instance, the only videos are of them hiding behind a beam ‘secretly’ filming her. This account is prob operated by her as a hook to get people to go see her account. Pretty smart.”A third person didn’t mince words, adding,
Their skepticism isn’t without reason. The account @nick.marchand5 posts only content about Reynolds, and every video feels carefully curated to fuel conversation, whether it’s sympathy for her apparent loneliness or outrage over her attention-seeking behavior.
It’s a cycle that benefits Reynolds either way: people who love her keep watching, and people who hate her can’t stop talking about her.
This situation reveals a larger problem with influencer culture today. As social media personalities compete for attention, the line between real life and performance becomes increasingly unclear.
Many influencers willingly blur that line, knowing that controversy and viral moments can lead to more followers, sponsorship deals, and income. Natalie Reynolds seems to be a clear example of this approach in action.
So, is Reynolds truly upset that no one showed up, or is this just another tactic to keep her brand in the spotlight? The truth may not matter much, either way, people are watching, and that’s exactly what keeps her relevant.
