After being teased for calling an $80 purse a “luxury item,” social media users rushed to the TikToker’s defense.
Singaporean influencer Zoe Gabriel, better known as @zohtaco on TikTok, took to the site to inform her 252,000 fans about her recent purchase, a handbag from Charles and Keith, courtesy of her father.
The video shows Zoe standing at the C&K counter before performing an unpacking for her admirers. The teenager’s face lights up as she pulls the black purse from the dust bag and holds it to the camera after carefully removing the protective covering. She even models the new item so people can see it in action.
However, rather than receiving a nice response, she was confronted with abuse from a few nitpickers online.
The Tiktoker was forced to address her family’s financial predicament in a follow-up video in response to one particular comment that read “Who’s going to tell her?” beside a laughing face emoji, plainly mocking her.
She confessed that her family had not had much money while growing up, so the gesture of being given a beautiful new purse meant even more to her.
“We couldn’t buy simple things like bread from BreadTalk,” she explained, referring to a famous Singaporean bakery. “We didn’t have that kind of luxury… My parents would say “next time” whenever we passed by a store, but next time would never come.
“An $80 bag may not be a luxury to you,” she added. It means a lot to my family and me, and I’m grateful that my father was able to purchase me one. He had to work so hard for that money.”
Both videos have now been viewed over 11 million times and acquired popularity, with thousands of other Tiktokers rallying to Zoe’s defense.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a luxury brand, it’s your father’s love, no Chanel or Hermes can replace a father’s love.” “I’m still happy for you,” one user remarked, adding, “Nobody starts at the same place. Disgusting comments on what defines luxury for someone.” “Go, love!”
“It is not in the comments area. You may not consider it a luxury brand, but she does. “Money cannot buy class or happiness,” a third stated.
“Charles & Keith is not affordable to a lot of people – I myself save up for it,” one commenter pointed out. As a result, it may not be as great as other brands…”
“Well, if anything that our parents buy is a luxury.” It’s not always about the price tag… emotional values don’t have prices.”
“I’m proud of your dad and you,” said another. “Charles and Keith rose from humble beginnings to achieve similar success.”
According to The Straits Times, the proprietors of the brand personally reached out to the youngster who first shared the footage in January and invited her and her father to lunch at their offices.
Not only that, but they also gave her more of their products, including a stunning black side pocketbook with gold embellishments, which she flaunted in a separate TikTok video.
Zoe wrote in the caption that none of this would have been possible without the generosity of strangers.
“This is for everyone who has shown their unending kindness and support,” she stated. “You have made things happen for me that I never thought were possible, taught me lessons I will never forget, and provided me with many priceless memories.”
“I would not be here without you, and for the millionth time and counting, I give you all my love, thanks, and well wishes; I am forever grateful and indebted to you all,” the adolescent said.
Zoe’s collaboration with the brand appears to be blossoming into something incredible, as they recently released a photo on their Instagram page of her modeling a lilac-colored C&K handbag for International Women’s Day, proclaiming her as a new brand ambassador!
Who is going to break the news to the haters?
We wish Zoe the best of luck with her new endeavor!
