It Is Time to Talk About Influencers on Red Carpets and Why Hollywood Is Suddenly Obsessed With the Idea
For better or for worse, influencers have now become a staple of red carpets. After the 2026 Academy Awards, public opinion is trending towards “worse.”
Hired as one of three influencers to work the Oscars’ red carpet by Vanity Fair, Jake Shane’s questions for attendees were largely seen as disruptive and tasteless. It’s not the first time influencers have gotten a bad rap for red carpet antics, and if entertainment industry trends continue, it won’t be the last.
But why have influencers become such a pervasive presence in Hollywood? How have we fallen so far from the glory days of Joan Rivers? And is there an end in sight?
What Have Influencers Been Saying on the Red Carpet?
Generally, nothing good. Jake Shane made headlines for his uncomfortable questions put towards Hollywood stars. A far cry from a trained journalist, the comedian put his insensitivity on full display when he repeatedly bashed the Oscar-nominated film If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, and spoke disparagingly about it in interviews with stars.
The film, about a desperate mother trying to take care of her sick child, was a favorite of actor Damson Idris. After finding that out, Shane asked Idris in an interview if he thought the sick child was “annoying.” When a visibly uncomfortable Idris tried to pivot away from the question, Shane interrupted him, yelling, “you know it! Mommy, mommy, mommy! Shut the f*ck up, damn!”
In a separate interview with Julia Fox, he repeatedly rolled his eyes while the actress praised the film as an honest portrayal of the struggles of single moms. Considering that Fox herself is a single mom, Shane’s behavior came off as particularly crass and disrespectful. While he had a lot to say to Idris and Fox, he appeared at a total loss for words while interviewing Kris Jenner alongside fellow host Quen Blackwell — leading Jenner to ask “how did you get this gig?” Shane responded, “I don’t know, honestly.”
Jake Shane is far from the first non-journalist to create a red-carpet fiasco. At the 2025 Oscars party, reality TV host and comedian Hannah Berner found herself sitting across from Megan Thee Stallion, and their resulting exchange became the stuff of internet infamy. Berner said to Megan, “When I want to fight someone, I listen to your music.” While the rapper tried to deflect and say that violence is not what her music is about, Berner continued to double down. Berner’s comments were criticized across social media for propagating harmful stereotypes about Black women, leading Berner herself to publicly apologize.
If Influencers Are Unprepared for the Red Carpet, Why Does Hollywood Keep Putting Them There?
Since the advent of TikTok, influencers have become nearly inescapable on the red carpet. According to an analysis from Hollywood Reporter, social media stars provide a cheap alternative to legacy journalists, and studios want to capitalize on their massive followings. While influencers are often paid for their red carpet appearances, some are not. Studios send an invite along without requiring the influencer to create content about the event, betting that they’ll do it anyway — it’s free marketing to millions of followers.
Studios also offer paid partnerships with influencers, hoping to leverage their followings into ticket and merchandise sales. According to influencer Caprice Coleo, “If you bring out the right creators, you get the right people in the seats and buying the merchandise.” After all, she says, Hollywood is “still a business at the end of the day.” The benefit is mutual — Hollywood studios use influencers to better market their films, and influencers gain social clout for a red carpet appearance. So long as they keep making studios money, influencers are likely here to stay.
(featured image: Cindy Ord/VF26/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)
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