These days, social media influencers are often seen as living the dream—big followings, brand deals, and a seemingly endless stream of cash.
But what many don’t realise is that not every influencer is rolling in money, and some take on side gigs to keep things afloat.
For one TikToker, this reality hit hard when he was mocked for working as a Grab rider—all because people assumed that being famous online meant he was automatically rich.
“Wait, you do Grab? But you’re famous!”
Afiq, who has over 730,000 followers on TikTok, recently shared a frustrating encounter while picking up a food order. A woman dining with her friends recognised him and struck up a conversation.
She asked me, ‘Aren’t you the TikToker Cicak?’ I said yes, and then she asked, ‘You’re doing Grab? But you’re famous on TikTok, right?’”
At first, Afiq casually explained that he was working part-time as a Grab rider to earn some extra cash. But instead of just accepting his answer, she seemed shocked and laughed about it with her friends.
She was like, ‘Aren’t influencers on TikTok supposed to be rich?’”
That moment stung. Afiq admitted that while he’s proud of earning an honest living, being laughed at for it still hurt.
I have a name, I have TikTok, but I still work Grab. Sometimes, I do feel embarrassed when people say things like that, but what can I do? If I don’t have money, I just work part-time with Grab.”
The truth about influencer life
People often assume that having thousands of followers equals a luxury lifestyle, but the truth is far from that. Not every influencer lands high-paying brand deals, and opportunities can be inconsistent.
Speaking to mStar, Afiq shared that while he doesn’t mind doing food delivery, it’s disheartening when people look down on it.
Honestly, I don’t mind working for Grab, but when people laugh at the job, I feel ashamed. I have a lot of followers, and people assume that means I must be rich. But in reality, a Grab rider can earn RM200 to RM300 a day.”
He also revealed that he has been working as a rider for two years because social media gigs aren’t as easy to come by as people think.
I do Grab part-time while waiting for review jobs. The jobs exist, but they’re getting harder to secure.”
“A job is a job”
Instead of dwelling on the negativity, Afiq had a message for those who judge others based on their work.
No matter how many followers someone has, they’re still just a regular person. It doesn’t matter what job they do, as long as it’s honest work.”
At the end of the day, work is work. Whether it’s delivering food, making content, or running a business, what matters is making an honest living.
And as Afiq’s story shows, being an influencer doesn’t mean life is all glitz and glam—sometimes, it just means doing whatever it takes to get by.
