Celebs Who Were Caught with Fake Followers on Social Media

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Researchers have been examining popular social media accounts, looking at the quality of their followers and how much they interact with content. These analyses often find that certain accounts have a large number of fake or inactive followers – bots or accounts that aren’t used much. Social media platforms themselves have also removed millions of these fake accounts, showing how common this problem is. Here are some well-known examples that have been identified in studies and news reports.

Ellen DeGeneres

Several reports analyzing Instagram activity showed that Ellen DeGeneres’ account had a surprisingly high number of likely fake followers compared to other celebrities. The study found she had more of these accounts than many other famous users. It’s important to note that these findings represent a specific moment in time and demonstrate that even very popular accounts can attract inactive or bot accounts over time.

BTS

An ICMP audit revealed that BTS had a surprisingly high number of fake or low-quality followers compared to other celebrity accounts on Instagram. News reports explained that it’s common for popular musicians to gain many inauthentic followers during periods of rapid growth. Entertainment and marketing publications widely shared these findings, highlighting that a large follower count doesn’t always mean genuine engagement.

Kourtney Kardashian

Reports about an Instagram follower analysis by ICMP showed Kourtney Kardashian was among several celebrities with a large number of likely fake followers. These reports, which summarized the audit’s results, placed her alongside other well-known figures in the entertainment and fashion industries. The media emphasized that the findings reflected the genuineness of an account’s audience, not whether any individual intentionally bought followers. It also pointed out that large celebrity accounts naturally attract many low-quality or fake profiles.

Taylor Swift

News reports about a study on Instagram followers showed that Taylor Swift’s account, like many other celebrity accounts with a large following, had a noticeable number of inactive or fake followers. The study used tools to estimate this based on how users interact with accounts. Experts explained this is typical for accounts that have gained followers over a long period of time, and that a high follower count doesn’t always mean genuine engagement.

Ariana Grande

Several news reports discussed an audit showing Ariana Grande had a significant number of fake or inactive followers on Instagram. These reports also highlighted similar issues with other celebrities. The articles presented these numbers as a measure of genuine audience engagement, not as evidence of wrongdoing, and noted that follower counts can fluctuate as social media platforms remove fake accounts.

Deepika Padukone

As a movie critic, I’ve been following the recent reports about Instagram follower audits, and it’s become clear that Deepika Padukone’s account was singled out in several analyses, including those by ICMP, as having a significant percentage of potentially inactive or bot followers. The coverage really put things in perspective, comparing her numbers to those of other big names in film and music. It’s important to remember, though, that these audits are just a snapshot in time – Instagram is constantly cleaning up accounts, so things can change. And the reports rightly pointed out that when an account gains followers really quickly, it often attracts a lot of spam and fake profiles.

Miley Cyrus

Recent reports analyzing Instagram follower authenticity revealed that many celebrities, including Miley Cyrus, have a significant number of fake or inactive followers. Entertainment news outlets shared these findings, highlighting that this is a widespread issue among popular accounts. The reports emphasized that looking at how much engagement a post receives—likes and comments—is a more reliable measure of popularity than simply counting followers.

Katy Perry

Katy Perry appeared in news reports twice regarding Instagram and Twitter followers. Firstly, articles about an analysis of fake followers highlighted her as one of many celebrities with a significant number of suspicious accounts. Secondly, when Twitter removed fake and locked accounts in 2018, Perry was among the top users who experienced a large drop in followers, demonstrating the extent of fake activity on the platform. Both instances showed how follower numbers can change when platforms clean up fake accounts.

Khloé Kardashian

Several publications reported on findings from the ICMP, including the fact that Khloé Kardashian was listed among celebrities with a significant number of fake or inactive Instagram followers. The reports compared audience quality across different celebrities using percentage breakdowns. They also emphasized that these follower audits are just estimates and can change when platforms remove fake accounts. The coverage advised marketers not to focus solely on the total number of followers.

Priyanka Chopra

News outlets in India and internationally reported on ICMP’s findings, noting that Priyanka Chopra, like many other celebrities, had a larger-than-usual number of potentially fake Instagram followers. These reports compared her follower numbers to those of other actors and musicians, and clarified that the percentages are simply estimates from follower auditing tools – not proof of any wrongdoing. They also pointed out that follower counts can fluctuate as fake accounts are deleted.

Neymar

Recent news reports highlighted that Neymar, like many other celebrities, has a significant number of fake or inactive followers on Instagram, according to a study by the ICMP. Articles noted that this is a common problem for popular athletes, who are often targeted by bot accounts and dormant profiles. The reports framed these numbers as an indicator of how engaged an audience truly is, which is important for companies considering advertising on the platform. They also pointed out that regularly removing fake followers can noticeably improve these metrics.

Barack Obama

In mid-2018, Twitter removed many fake and locked accounts, and major news organizations immediately noticed that some of the platform’s most popular users, like Barack Obama, lost followers. This showed how quickly follower numbers can decrease when accounts that aren’t genuine or have been compromised are removed. Locked accounts were identified as those exhibiting unusual activity and required users to verify their authenticity to regain access. This event became a benchmark for understanding how account purges affect well-known individuals.

Share who else you think should be on this list in the comments.

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2025-10-31 05:48