Bianca Coster takes a stand: the real impact of cyberbullying and identity theft on her career

We live in an era where online personas can dominate public perception. Former Johannesburg-based influencer Bianca Coster has found herself in a battle she never signed up for. 

In a viral video that has captured the hearts of South Africans, Coster opened up about the ongoing cyberbullying she’s endured for years due to a Twitter account impersonating her.

The account in question belongs to Chris Excel, a self-proclaimed "president of Black Twitter", notorious for spewing negativity about women, celebrities, and influencers while using Coster’s image as his profile picture.

Coster’s raw, emotional response to the situation has reignited conversations about cyberbullying and its devastating impact. 

She took to TikTok and posted an emotional video addressing a comment on her photo. This video has since gone viral, racking up over 43,000 views in just 24 hours.

The comment, made by a user named Johnny Bravo, stated: "This is the most famous pic on SA Twitter (X) and possibly the whole of social media. Another one won’t get as much views. It’s only fair that she reaps the benefits of her pic, too. I mean, it’s hers."

@biancacoster Replying to @Johny Bravo ♬ original sound - Bianca Coster

Coste responded with visible frustration:  “It really bugs me when I see comments like this. I didn’t want to respond to all the shenanigans that’s happening on my post, but what are the benefits, you guys?

"I see a lot of people saying, ‘Oh no, she’s reaping the benefits of Chris Excel using her pictures'. What are the benefits?”

She went on to explain how the use of her image by Chris Excel has actually caused irreparable harm to her career.  

In the video, Coster details how the photo Excel used was part of a branded campaign with VitaDrip in 2020. She revealed that during that campaign, she was earning R15 000 a month. 

She shared that before the photo was misappropriated, her career as a content creator was thriving.  

"I was working with phenomenal brands like Vaseline, MTN, Darling Hair, and even doing television adverts. I had a lot going for me before this happened," she said.

"But after that picture started circulating with his account, things just started declining. My last campaign was in July last year, and I only had two campaigns the entire year."  

This Chris Excel issue is exactly why nothing ever gets better for South African women. A grown a** man is impersonating Bianca for his own gain and South African men are out here twerking for him. They don’t just turn a blind eye to harassment, they celebrate it🚮 https://t.co/D7ETQlzoy6

She goes on to say, “If you go onto my page, you can see that after that picture things just started declining, declining, declining. So honestly, I don’t like seeing that comment that I’m reaping the benefits.

"There are no benefits. Him using my picture has tarnished my image, and it’s harder for me.” 

“Imagine if that was my main source of income. I don’t know if you guys consider having followers as beneficial, but for somebody like me,  I’m very introverted. Those who know me personally know that.”

Her passion lies in acting and television, but the stigma surrounding her association with the Excel account has made it challenging to build trust with brands and audiences.  

"For someone like me, who’s introverted, this has been really difficult. People don’t understand how much I’ve had to explain myself, whether it’s in corporate spaces, to brands, or even in personal relationships because of this situation.

"It’s financially draining, emotionally exhausting, and I’m tired of being judged because of something I didn’t do," she said.  

Coster also pointed out the absurdity of claims that she’s "enjoying the fame" brought on by the account.  

"Why couldn’t he use another picture? Why should I constantly have to adjust my life to accommodate this Chris Excel person? He could’ve used a plant, but he chose my picture, knowing full well the implications of that decision," she said. 

The video sparked mixed reactions across social media. Many South Africans empathised with Coster, calling for accountability and action against cyberbullying:  

“Chris Excel ruined her career and life 😢😢😢.”  “Why haven’t we done anything to help her, guys? This is so upsetting.”

“They don’t even recognise this as a form of abuse. To them, it’s just ‘banter.’”  

Others, however, accused Coster of exaggerating her plight, with some defending Excel’s actions. One user wrote:  “Why are you making this about men now? Doesn’t Chris have female followers, too?” 

Cyberbullying and identity misuse  

Coster’s story sheds light on the broader issue of cyberbullying and the misuse of personal identity online.

While some may dismiss impersonation as harmless, the real-world consequences for victims can be devastating. Coster’s case demonstrates how online actions can ripple into careers, mental health, and personal lives.  

As the debate continues, it’s clear that more needs to be done to protect individuals from such violations. Coster ended her video with a heartfelt plea:  “Please, guys, give me a break. Can I just live my life?”  

Surely, she deserves that.