TikTok star Alix Earle apologized Monday for a post she wrote when she was 13 years old in which she used a slur used to insult Black people.
The Miami-based Earle, now 23, used the language in posts made to the website ask.fm in 2014. In a post shared to her Instagram and TikTok stories, Earle said that at the time she “did not understand the deeply offensive meaning” behind the slur.
“That is no excuse for using that word in any context or at any age. That absolutely is not the way I speak or what I stand for,” Earle wrote. “I am deeply sorry that my words have hurt many and have led people to believe that I have any prejudice in my heart.”
The creator, who exploded in popularity in 2023 while a student at the University of Miami, has amassed more than 7 million followers on TikTok and more than 3 million followers on Instagram. She became known as the platform’s “it girl,” sharing personal details about her life, including viral “get ready with me” videos, as well as her acne journey. She’s since been featured as the cover star of Sports Illustrated’s first digital issue and ranked No. 8 on Rolling Stone’s 2024 list of most influential creators.
A representative for Earle did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
Her apology came after people online referenced screenshots of Earle’s old posts, which were shared on Reddit two years ago. In recent days, some of Earle’s followers have asked her to address the old posts.
There were at least four posts from when Earle was 13, screenshots of which were shared two years ago. It’s unclear if Earle still has an ask.fm account and it’s also unclear if the posts are accessible to this day. Earle has not appeared to use the term in any other media.
She’s among numerous white influencers — including Brooke Schofield earlier this month — who have been called out for their past racist remarks and subsequently issued apologies. Many Black creators have previously expressed exhaustion at the frequency at which white creators are exposed for having previously made racist comments, and how quickly those creators are forgiven by non-Black fans. Some shared that they believe white influencers often don’t understand how harmful their old comments are.
Earle expressed regret over how she handled her initial lack of response, appearing to reference the two years since the posts began circulating, saying she allowed “too many people” to talk her out of saying something.
“There is no one to blame but myself for not standing my ground and going with my gut to speak out right away,” she said.
Earle also denounced rumors circulating online that she had attempted to trademark her old tweets and that she had lost brand deals.
“In the absence of my addressing this, my silence allowed others to fill the void with rumors that simply aren’t true,” she wrote.
