‘I run a business, I’m not an influencer!’: Kimberley Garner steps out with beau in Miami as she hits back amid backlash about stars jetting abroad for ‘work trips’
Kimberley Garner stepped out with her mystery boyfriend in Miami on Thursday as she furiously hit back amid mounting backlash about stars jetting abroad on ‘work trips’.
The former Made In Chelsea star, 29, took to Instagram to say: ‘I run a business, I’m not an influencer’ as she defended her reasons for being in the U.S. during the height of the pandemic.
Kimberley said she jetted out of the U.K. on December 14 – a week before London moved into Tier 4- to ‘check on my apartment’.
Defensive: Kimberley Garner stepped out with her mystery boyfriend in Miami on Thursday as she furiously hit back amid mounting backlash of stars jetting abroad on ‘work trips’
Kimberley, who travelled to Barbados before checking on her Miami apartment, is one of many stars who have been trolled online after being slammed by Home Secretary Priti Patel for jetting abroad under the ruse of a ‘work trip’ despite strict COVID-19 travel rules.
Taking to Instagram, Kimberley, who owns her own swimwear business Kimberley London, wrote: ‘I bought my place here this time two years ago. It was a massive achievement, still really can’t believe it sometimes. I run a business- I’m not an influencer.
‘Flew out of the UK on the 14th December to come check on my apartment, this was before any lockdown, and plan to wait here until I can return home. I miss London a lot.’
Across the pond: Kimberley said she jetted out of the U.K on December 14 – a week before London moved into Tier 4- to ‘check on my apartment’- but went to Barbados first
Her say: The former Made In Chelsea star, 29, took to Instagram to say: ‘I run a business, I’m not an influencer’ as she defended her reasons for being in the U.S. during the pandemic
Kimberley has been enjoying the past month in the sunshine and has gone public with her romance with her new mystery beau.
The swimwear designer has kept coy about his identity on social media but the couple looked loved up as they headed out on a stroll hand-in-hand.
Kimberley showcased her tanned and toned physique in a white crop top and denim shorts.
She teamed the look with a navy blazer and black Chanel handbag.
Kimberley’s outrage Instagram post comes amid backlash towards influencers who have jetted abroad during the pandemic.
As they shared photos from sun loungers, lockdown had appeared not to apply to so-called influencers and models who ‘used loop-holes’ to jet off the sunnier climes under the guise of work.
Angry: Home Secretary Priti Patel slammed stars for bragging about their holidays and people ‘turning up with their skis at St Pancras Station’, adding, ‘Going on holiday is not an exemption’
On Wednesday Priti Patel criticised those who have been holidaying in the sun when they have been told to stay at home.
She said going on holiday was ‘not an exemption’ as she unveiled a strict borders clampdown to slow the spread of the virus, telling the Commons: ‘People should simply not be travelling.
‘We see plenty of influencers showing off where they are – mainly sunny places.’
Living it up: Kimberley has been enjoying the past month in the sunshine and has gone public with her romance with her new mystery beau
As the criticism intensifies, members of the public appear to be taking umbrage with their tone deaf posts from Dubai – now dubbed ‘Covid Cosablanca.’
Hostile messages on Instagram and Twitter pages are accusing them of recklessly spreading the virus and putting the NHS under increasing strain.
Many claim they jetted off for ‘unavoidable work trips’ – with some even going so far as to suggest that their social media posts should make them ‘key workers’.
Laura Anderson, who appeared on Love Island in 2018, moaned about how ‘hard it was to be an influencer’ after she was met with a backlash about her Dubai trip, before claiming she went as a ‘coping mechanism’ to deal with COVID.
Scores of reality TV stars ‘used loop holes’ to flee to Dubai to lounge in luxury hotels, pose for pictures with cocktails on sun loungers and enjoy beach parties.
Outrage: Many influencers claim they jetted off for ‘unavoidable work trips’ – with some even going so far as to suggest that their social media posts should make them ‘key workers’