Netflix has just released the official trailer for its new South African crime-drama series, ‘Bad Influencer’ set for release, 31 October 2025. The series brings together a high-profile local cast and a storyline that speaks directly to our times.
‘Bad Influencer’ follows the story of a single mother and luxury bag counterfeiter who finds herself teaming up with a self-obsessed influencer to sell her bags and scrape her way out of debt.
The series, created by Lincoln Green Media, an award winning African production company founded by Kudi Maradzika, produced by Gambit Films has an impressive cast that includes Jo-Anne Reyneke, who stars as BK, a single mother, alongside Cindy Mahlangu as Pinky, an aspiring influencer. Former Miss Universe 2019, Zozibini Tunzi makes her series acting debut as Naomi, a character described as “confident, layered, and slightly dangerous”; Thapelo Mokoena, Vincent Mahlape-Sekuba, Mpilo Shabalala, Modise Motaung, Kamohelo Pule, Mandisa Nduna and Emmanuel Castis.
From the trailer, Bad Influencer seem to be tapping into several trends that are increasingly relevant globally, including in Africa. From the dominance of influencer culture to media reflecting the influencer age and the dynamics of identity, consumption and aspirations, Bad Influencer seems poised to dramatise some of that tension: the desire for luxury, the attempt to transcend hardship, and the willingness to bend rules when the stakes are high.
Content creators and influencers have moved from side characters to central figures in public life. They shape trends, influence consumer behaviour, and often become symbols of aspiration. In many cases, they blur the line between notoriety, fame, and real influence. Documentaries and film productions have begun mining this territory more frequently. Shows and films are exploring stories about influencers, their curated lives, the pressure of maintaining an image, the disconnect between online persona and real life, and the moral, financial, or legal pitfalls.
Bad Influencer looks to be more than just another Netflix drama series. It’s tapping into what it means to live in the social media age where every photo, every post, every follower can feel like a move in a game of survival. With its strong cast, local flavour, and dark themes, it promises to both entertain and provoke. Whether it’s a mirror we like or one we squirm in, it may say something important about what or who is shaping our digital lives.
Watch the trailer HERE
