Social media creators Fao Shyshy and Chebet Ronoh have publicly defended TikToker Kendy SZN following a wave of online mockery over her viral “Involve me… with your iPhone 11” post, a joke many interpreted as classist.
The backlash intensified when some users resurfaced Kendi’s gender-based violence (GBV) experience to ridicule her, prompting both creators to speak out against the harassment.
Fao Shyshy Calls Out Hypocrisy
Fao Shyshy took to Instagram stories to highlight what she described as the irony and hypocrisy of online bullies. She wrote:
“You know the funniest thing is everyone posting about the GBV and at the same time bullying her! Such an irony. Purple hearts everywhere and still celebrating someone being beaten. Some shallow level of hypocrisy.”
She also addressed the behavior of women participating in the #WomenForChange campaign, noting the contradiction:
“The same girls who have purple profiles are the same ones trolling Kendy SZN.”
Chebet Ronoh Urges Compassion
Chebet Ronoh echoed Fao Shyshy’s frustration in a video shared with fans, calling for an end to bullying. She stated:
“No one deserves abuse, no matter the offense.”
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Regarding the viral challenge, Ronoh explained:
“The ‘Involve me’ trend had me blocking and unfollowing people. I noticed it went from funny to mean. I did not even see the video Kendy SZN made; I just saw it through the outrage and I thought she had said something so mean or abusive, only to find out people are making fun about her abuse just because she used classism. Having women with purple hearts making fun of her abuse is crazy.”
The “Involve Me” Challenge
The controversy stems from a TikTok trend in which users participate in the “Involve me” challenge.
Kendy SZN’s participation, where she wrote, “Involve me… involve me with your iPhone 11,” sparked backlash, prompting her to close the comment section on that particular video. Critics argued that the joke was insensitive, while others claimed that it was being used to diminish women.
Ronoh shared that she had not even seen the original video but noticed the outrage online, only to discover that people were mocking Kendy’s past experiences of abuse. She remarked:
“Having women with purple hearts making fun of her abuse is crazy.”
Purple Hearts and #WomenForChange Movement
The backlash coincides with the #WomenForChange campaign, a social media movement across South Africa and other African countries advocating against GBV and femicide.
Participants change their profiles to purple as a symbol of solidarity, calling for gender-based violence to be declared a national emergency.
The campaign also includes a nationwide shutdown on November 21, with women urged to pause work, wear black, and turn their profiles purple ahead of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, where activists plan to spotlight the crisis .
Both Fao Shyshy and Chebet Ronoh emphasized the importance of empathy online. Their statements stress that humor should never cross into personal attacks, especially when it involves survivors of abuse.
Their remarks serve as a reminder that even social media campaigns intended to fight GBV can be undermined if participants act hypocritically.
Below is Ronoh's video
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