A TikTok influencer recently found herself in hot water after sharing her achievement of buying a mortgage-free home at just 21 years old.
Katylee Bailey, from Bradford, posted a video to her 2.8 million followers celebrating this milestone by popping a bottle of confetti. The caption read, “Biggest achievement of my life. Here’s to my new chapter,” and the video quickly went viral, racking up almost four million views.
However, the 21-year-old, who dropped out of university to pursue a full-time career as a TikTok content creator, received criticism from some followers. Many viewers expressed frustration over the high cost of living and their struggles to make ends meet. One person commented, “And I can’t even afford to buy myself a Dairy Milk bar from the Co-op.” Another wrote, “Well done, but it’s crazy to me that people work, saving all their lives, and will probably work until their 70s just to pay off a mortgage.”
In response to the backlash, Ms. Bailey posted another video to apologize for coming across as boastful. In the second clip, which also gained nearly four million views, she admitted that she was “lucky” and expressed regret if her post made anyone feel uncomfortable. She said, “I just wanted to come on here to say that I’m sorry to anyone who feels like I’m bragging about the house thing. Yes, the system is absolutely messed up, and I will never get my head around the fact that I’ve become so lucky.”
Katylee explained that she hadn’t grown up with wealth and never expected to own a home at such a young age. Her apology video resonated with many fans, and she received an outpouring of support. One follower commented, “That’s unbelievable. So many influencers just buy designer bags or flashy cars, but you’ve really set yourself up for life. Amazing, Katy!”
Influencer Miriam Mullins also showed her support, writing, “You deserve it so much, Katylee. You’ve clearly worked hard to get to where you are and should be so proud of yourself. It’s just jealous people.”