Farha Khalidi, an OnlyFans creator and TikTok star, revealed in a podcast interview with commentator Richard Hanania that she was paid by the Biden administration to spread political propaganda on social media. She said that she was asked to promote then-Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to her tens of thousands of followers after Brown Jackson was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Biden. Khalidi described it as full-on political propaganda and mentioned that she was specifically asked not to disclose that it was an advertisement. The administration wanted her to use her platform as an “edgy girl of color” to sell their message and engage in identity politics.
Khalidi clarified that she was working with a third-party media company acting on behalf of the Biden administration, not directly with Biden himself. She stated that she pushed back against the script provided by the media company because she was uncomfortable with a white woman telling her what to say. Khalidi refused to use phrases like “as a person of color” or to provide the desired narrative about feeling reflected by Ketanji Brown Jackson. She felt that the experience had made her cynical about political propaganda and was unwilling to participate in spreading messages that she did not genuinely agree with.
It was revealed in the interview that Khalidi had also taken ads from other sources, including Planned Parenthood and dating apps, to support herself financially during college. While she did not disclose the exact amount that she was paid by the Biden administration, she indicated that the payments had been a significant source of income for her at the time. The interview shed light on the behind-the-scenes interactions between influencers and political entities, highlighting how influencers are used to promote specific messages and agendas to their followers. The revelation raised questions about transparency and the ethics of using social media personalities for political purposes.
The interview with Khalidi illustrated the tactics employed by the Biden administration to reach a younger audience through influencers on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. By engaging influencers like Khalidi, the administration sought to humanize political figures like Ketanji Brown Jackson and promote their policies to a broader audience. However, Khalidi’s resistance to following the prescribed script and her insistence on maintaining authenticity in her messaging showcased the challenges of using influencers for political propaganda. The incident highlighted the blurred lines between authentic content creation and paid promotion on social media platforms.
Khalidi’s experience with political advertising on social media highlighted the broader issue of authenticity and transparency in influencer marketing. The practice of disguising sponsored content as organic posts or endorsements raises ethical concerns about the manipulation of audiences through deceptive advertising practices. Khalidi’s decision to speak out about her experiences and push back against the pressure to promote political propaganda that she did not believe in served as a reminder of the importance of integrity and honesty in online content creation. The interview sparked a conversation about the responsibilities of influencers in maintaining transparency and ethical standards in their partnerships with brands and political entities.
The lack of transparency around political advertising on social media platforms and the practice of using influencers to spread propaganda raised questions about the influence and impact of such campaigns on public opinion. The interview with Khalidi shed light on the strategies employed by political entities to leverage social media influencers for their messaging and the challenges faced by influencers in navigating these partnerships. The incident served as a reminder of the need for greater accountability and transparency in influencer marketing, particularly in the realm of political advertising, to ensure that audiences are not misled or manipulated by deceptive practices.
