TikTok Australia has issued a public apology after several Black creators reported racism at its 2025 awards event in Sydney last week.
Black influencer Florence Baitio, a nominee in the Beauty and Fashion category, was among those who made the allegations online.
She said she had been “shoved” off the red carpet, describing the incident as “embarrassing”.
In a written statement, TikTok apologised to guests who “felt excluded or uncomfortable”.
Here’s what happened.
Allegations
Alongside Baitio, content creator Niiyéll posted footage from the red carpet showing someone she said was a TikTok staffer telling her: “We don’t need your photo — what are they going to do with your photo?”
Your contribution ensures The Daily Aus can continue doing the work you love.
I want to give $10 monthly to help TDA keep doing the news.
Your details:
TikTok Australia told TDA the person identified in Niiyéll's video was not one of their staffers.
Niiyéll, who attended the event with several fellow Black creators, said she perceived a difference in how she was treated compared with white attendees.
She reported that multiple Black creators had told her they weren’t welcome to pose for professional photographers.
Apology
In a post on its platform, TikTok said it was “deeply upset” by the allegations.
It said that last-minute adjustments to the red carpet meant the event space was halved, making “the flow of people throughout the venue challenging”.
The social media company said it recognises its “diverse community is what makes TikTok great” and that it intends to take on feedback to “improve future events”.
