LOVE Island’s Laura Anderson has defended being an influencer and insisted it’s “really hard” as she works in Dubai during lockdown.
The Scottish reality star, 31, addressed the backlash aimed at influencers for escaping the UK for business trips in exotic luxury.
She said: “This whole thing about everyone hating influencers, I’m just like f**k, this is what I do for a job at the minute. I don’t want to feel c**p. “
In a bid to change perceptions and show that it isn’t just glamour and riches, Laura urged followers to look beyond the social media photographs.
She continued: “I’m thinking maybe, would it be a good idea to give more of an insight into the reality of being an influencer.
“I think a lot of young people might want to do it, but you realise it’s not that great when you see the reality of it. I saw someone in my comments saying you’re on holiday, but when you’re working you’re not on holiday.
“On holiday doesn’t mean just in the sun. I want people to understand then maybe they won’t get as annoyed, it’s not just right now, all the time.
“I remember when Molly-Mae went into the villa everyone was like omg she’s an influencer, as it if was a negative thing. I thought it would be a good idea to give an insight so people don’t hate it as much and realise how hard it is.”
Laura admitted to deleting some of the negative comments left on her posts and pleaded with followers to think twice before writing hateful messages.
“If you don’t have anything nice to say please do not comment 
,” she said. “Guys I’m sorry to delete negative comments. Some have valid points but I can’t argue everyday. I’ve so much to say but I can’t win on such a fragile topic or speak for anyone other than myself.”
The thought of living alone through another lockdown, unable to work properly, filled Laura with dread.
She said: “The reality for me coming here prior to lockdown just as an FYI was so I could still earn money because I ain’t a millionaire 
I live alone in Glasgow with no family or friends close enough that are allowed to travel to me.
“So for my own mental health being in Dubai I can be around my family and friends that Still live here since I lived here for 8years prior to love island, I still call uae home.
“I’m definitely not out and about everyday as I need to be on my laptop working & life here is strict but has loosened recently due to a lot worse restrictions than we endured at the start.
“Some of you may already know all of this or you may not or you may not care. Thanks for your energy, I can take the punching bag treatment most of the time and to be honest I’d rather be the person you gave out to.”
Today Kym Marsh and Olivia Attwood slammed the reality stars living it up in Dubai while coronavirus cripples much of the world.
The Coronation Street star, 44, and Love Island favourite, 26, have made their opinions on the matter very clear – and aren’t impressed with those who have decided to jet off to the UAE.
In recent weeks many British celebrities and influencers have shared pictures from breaks in Dubai while increasingly tough restrictions are imposed in the UK.
Kym recently explained about how she feels on her most recent column for OK! magazine.
She said: “Lots of influencers seem to be going abroad.
“If you’ve got to travel for work then fair enough, but I personally would be putting off that trip and staying at home.
“From what I can see from the pictures of people in Dubai, every man and his dog is there and it doesn’t look particularly socially distanced!
“It looked like lockdown and coronavirus wasn’t happening and I can see it would be easy to forget about social distancing.
“You could pick it up and then bring it back. I think we should just shut the borders and none of us travel anywhere.”
Last night the celeb hotspot was been placed onto the UK’s quarantine list, affecting anyone currently on holiday in Dubai.
Although UK citizens are currently only allowed to travel abroad for essential trips, anyone was allowed to jet off on holiday before we were put into lockdown in December.
To be allowed into Dubai, the celebrities had to prove a negative result on arrival, but returning home to the UK, they didn’t have to quarantine or get a test.
The city doesn’t have as many restrictions in place to stop the spread of the deadly bug, meaning that reality stars can party until their hearts are content, sunbathe and eat out at restaurants.
And many stars including the likes of Love Island’s Amber Gill, Joshua Ritchie and Geordie Shore’s Chloe Ferry are doing just that.
Their travels have sparked fury with followers as many of them are trying to justify their trip by saying it’s for ‘work’.
Another celeb who is also annoyed by this is Love Island star Olivia.
Earlier today the influencer took to Instagram to update her 1.9 million followers on what she’s currently up to – explaining that the good weather in Manchester means that she can finally take some content for her Instagram page.
She explained that it’s been tricky to generate because of the bad weather in the UK and went on to make a sly dig about all her pals who are currently abroad.
Olivia joked: “So actually yeah basically being an influencer is actually really hard and I can’t create content for you guys here.
“So I am going to have to go on holiday, but don’t worry I will keep referring to it as ‘work’”.
She later took to her Stories again to continue with her rant.
She added: “Oh my god I sound like an actual hater. Do you know what it is right, it’s just this meme that’s been going around which is making influencers, and it’s not all of them it’s only a few, look so bad.
“It’s the constant ‘I’m working, not on holiday’ shout. There is a difference from being able to earn money wherever you are are to being there for work.”
She explained to her fans that she would and has never tried to make out that any of her previous holidays have been because of work.
Olivia said: “Whenever I go on holiday I’ll post content which I can monetise. I’m still on holiday. I don’t go ‘Oh me and Brad have had the most amazing week in Portugal but don’t worry I was flat out working. You just sound so stupid.”
Despite throwing shade at her fellow influencers, the beauty admitted that she may at some point try to escape the current stress of Covid-19 by going abroad.
She continued: “And on top of that you’ve got the ones going ‘Oh we’re all in this together, this is our struggle’. No it’s not. You’re on holiday and to be fair I don’t f**king blame you.
“If this goes on for another six months I’m not going to say that I wouldn’t potentially be tempted to take a trip, because I probably f**king would.”
Dubai’s coronavirus cases have doubled in a week, which has resulted in the UAE being removed from the air bridge list last night.
This means that anyone planning to return to the UK after travelling must now quarantine as soon as they get back, and show a negative test on arrival.
Meanwhile in the UK, the number of excess deaths recorded since the start of the pandemic has now passed 88,000.
It was reported earlier today that England and Wales recorded the highest weekly death toll since May 2020 – 3,144 coronavirus-related deaths.
