19-year-old TikTok star Zoe LaVerne is facing a crisis. After rising to online fame on Musical.ly, TikTok's predecessor, LaVerne has held onto a strong following for 4 years — but now her future as an influencer is in jeopardy.
LaVerne disappeared from the internet in early November 2020 after a leaked video appeared to show her kissing a 13-year-old fan. In an apology, LaVerne said she "caught feelings" for the young fan, who goes by Connor Joyce online. LaVerne blamed the interaction on the pair becoming "best friends," and denied that she had been "grooming" Connor, a term used when an older person builds a close relationship to manipulate and exploit a young person.
For teenage influencers clinging onto fast-paced online fame, controversy can be a good thing. TikTok stars like Bryce Hall and Danielle Cohn have cultivated profitable personas as troublemakers and provocateurs, and even family-friendly influencers like Charli D'Amelio and Addison Rae are boosted by relationship drama. But there's a tipping point for influencer scandals, especially those involving inappropriate relationships with underage fans.
This isn't LaVerne's first time experiencing a negative outpouring of attention, but it's the most serious of her controversies. Here's how LaVerne went from a lip-syncing Musical.ly star to a TikTok villain.