A wave of controversy has hit South African social media as several influencers, including popular TikTok star Cyan Boujee, had their accounts banned following public reports of human trafficking involvement.
The drama unfolded after the group promoted a questionable work programme in Russia aimed at young women—a move authorities flagged for potential labour exploitation.
TikTok Accounts Shut Down After Public Backlash
Barely a day after issuing an apology for promoting the unverified Russian job scheme, Cyan Boujee and other creators such as Seemah found their TikTok accounts suspended.
Users had reported them for engaging in human exploitation, which falls under laws against soliciting human trafficking.
Social media users on platforms like X shared how they actively reported the accounts, helping trigger the bans.
Cyan Boujee Responds to the Backlash
In a now-deleted Instagram Story, Cyan Boujee addressed the public, expressing frustration over her banned account. She said in a short clip:
“Justice for Cyan. Justice for everyone.”
She added:
“We didn’t know. This is too much. South Africans are so negative.”
Her reaction highlights the tension between social media influencers and public scrutiny, especially when controversial programmes are involved.
How Long Do TikTok Bans Last?
TikTok enforces strict community guidelines to prevent violence, hate speech, and child sexual abuse or exploitation.
Accounts found violating these rules can face temporary or permanent bans.
Some suspensions last just 24 hours, while more severe cases—like those linked to alleged human exploitation—can result in permanent bans.
TikTok also reserves the right to suspend any connected or future accounts.
Affected influencers, including Cyan Boujee, do have the option to appeal if they believe the ban was unjust.
The Controversial Alabuga Start Programme
The trouble began when Cyan Boujee and her peers promoted the Alabuga Start Programme, a Russian work initiative targeting young girls.
The programme’s legitimacy has been questioned, raising alarms about labour exploitation and human trafficking concerns.
Images shared via Instagram showed Cyan Boujee actively engaging with the promotion before the bans came into effect.
Public Debate and Social Media Reactions
The incident has sparked widespread debate online.
Some believe the bans are justified to protect vulnerable young people, while others argue the influencers were unaware of the risks.
Social media users continue to discuss whether TikTok will eventually reinstate the accounts, keeping the controversy alive across multiple platforms.
