1 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: Episode one, The Making of Michael Finch. It didn't take 2 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,440 Speaker 1: long for Michael Finch to make it big on YouTube. 3 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: The eighteen year old instantly captivated audiences with his larger 4 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: than life persona and unfiltered opinions. 5 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:21,440 Speaker 2: I literally had no idea how offended people can get 6 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,319 Speaker 2: by me saying cue, or just anyone saying cue, Like, 7 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 2: if that means that I ain't ship, then you can 8 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 2: eat my ass. 9 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: Michael star began burning bright when he joined forces with 10 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: Australia's Girl Shani Grimmond. The unlikely duo were an Internet sensation. 11 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:40,639 Speaker 3: Yeah it was your head. I will look at you. 12 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 2: You look like someone from fucking Whovil Cindi leu is 13 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 2: that you? 14 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:46,560 Speaker 1: Their catchphrases became a part of the zeitgeist. 15 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 2: Fucking serious, get in there, Bindi king king. That's a 16 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 2: problem that. 17 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: YouTube was in its heyday and Michael and his influencer 18 00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 1: girl gang were the biggest stars in Australia. A fucking 19 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: fat mouth and. 20 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 3: Chi gives to me. 21 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:04,759 Speaker 2: Behind the scenes, no one sees it. 22 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: But what happens when those friendships break down and you 23 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 1: start losing your relevance. In this series, we explore Michael 24 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 1: Finch's meteoric rise to internet fame and his impressive transformation 25 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: from makeup guru to TikTok chev. We are journalist Sophie 26 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 1: Kate and Amy Torbert, and this is outspoken. Plus, I'm 27 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 1: so excited for this deep dive because Michael Finch has 28 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: got to be one of my favorite influences. He has 29 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:32,199 Speaker 1: been for such a long time. 30 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 4: Yeah. 31 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: For me, it was really Shiny Grimmond and Michael Finch 32 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 1: that got me into YouTube and engaged in the world 33 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: of influencers. And I think that's a similar case for 34 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 1: a lot of our listeners. I remember there's was always 35 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,399 Speaker 1: such excitement when his vlogs came out. There were ones 36 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: you instantly had to consume. Yeah, I think they were 37 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: really a part of the golden days of YouTube. And 38 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: it is crazy to look back at the wild ride 39 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 1: that has been Michael Finch's influencing career for almost a 40 00:01:57,280 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 1: decade now. I can't believe he's turning twenty seven. This, 41 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: Oh my, that makes me feel so old, I know. 42 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 1: Will He first launched his YouTube channel back in twenty fourteen, 43 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: sharing makeup tutorials and product reviews, and I went back 44 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 1: and had to look and He's deleted a lot of 45 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 1: his old content, so the earliest videos I could find 46 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: were him with his iconic pout and bleach blonde hair 47 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 1: back in twenty sixteen. I don't really blame him for 48 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 1: deleting these videos. Can you imagine how embarrassing it would 49 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: be to have your high school self on YouTube, particularly 50 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,079 Speaker 1: because at the time there were so many trending videos 51 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 1: around makeup, And it's wild to think about how our 52 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 1: makeup has evolved. I mean, because I was having so 53 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 1: much fun looking at these videos too, and I forgot 54 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 1: how big of a thing under ie baking was. Yes, 55 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: and also highlighter, because I didn't even wear highlighter anymore, 56 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: but I remember champagne pop was literally the most popular 57 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 1: makeup item. Yeah, it made me realize how old some 58 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: of my makeup is that I still have, because I've 59 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: got some of those iconic palettes that they would always use, 60 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:57,919 Speaker 1: and I'm like, geez, this is probably so out of date. 61 00:02:58,040 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: I should not be using this. I think you need 62 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: to throw that. Okays that since twenty fourteen, Yeah, well, 63 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 1: I do think you forget how revolutionary Michael Finch was 64 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:09,400 Speaker 1: on YouTube because you think about it. Yes, they had 65 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: Jeffrey Star in the US, but in Australia we didn't 66 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: have any males on YouTube doing makeup tutorials. And you've 67 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 1: got Michael Finch, this teenager from a rural town in Victoria, 68 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 1: sharing these amazing makeup tutorials and becoming a household name. 69 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 1: And it wasn't just his makeup that was a winner 70 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 1: for people, it was his personality because he really did 71 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,639 Speaker 1: speak to an audience of young women and men who 72 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 1: were perhaps struggling at school because he did talk about 73 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 1: being bullied. And I know a lot of people have 74 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 1: contacted him since he became famous, saying that he helped 75 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:44,839 Speaker 1: them so much through bullying and also depression and anxiety. Yeah, 76 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: it's easy to see how he cultivated such a dedicated 77 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: following because he was not only loud and hilarious, but 78 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: as you said, vulnerable and really real at the same time. 79 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 1: I think, like most people, I came across Michael Finch 80 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 1: through Sharny Grimman's channel, and Shaney was the Aussie it 81 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: girl on YouTube at the time, and they were such 82 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 1: an unbeatable duo together. Yeah, I mean, I would compare 83 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 1: her popularity to that of Anna Paul at the moment, 84 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: because I think a lot of people forget just how 85 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 1: big Shanny was because she has sort of trailed into 86 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: obscurity at the moment. I mean, she does still put 87 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 1: out TikTok videos, but she was the it girl. She 88 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:23,239 Speaker 1: was the person that everyone watched. Like when her videos dropped, 89 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: you'd be racing to go and watch them. Yeah, And 90 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:28,280 Speaker 1: like most YouTubers, Michael and Shannie met online, so they 91 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:31,159 Speaker 1: actually used to watch each other's YouTube videos and started 92 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: messaging each other. So at the time, Michael was living 93 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 1: in regional Victoria and Shanni was visiting Melbourne one weekend, 94 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 1: so they met up and Michael did her makeup and 95 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:42,480 Speaker 1: then they went clubbing, and I think the rest is history. 96 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:44,479 Speaker 1: Really a bit of a fun fact there whilst I 97 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:47,839 Speaker 1: was trolling through old videos, apparently that's when he also 98 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 1: met Lily Brown. So Lily Brown was a friend that 99 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:53,479 Speaker 1: happened to be in Melbourne. It's a bit odd because 100 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 1: Lily Brown also lives in Brisbane, so I wonder if 101 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 1: it was a bit orchestrated by her, because she really 102 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: did be a permanent fixture on Michael Finch's Instagram stories. 103 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,239 Speaker 1: I don't think he was that big when he met Shanny, 104 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 1: like Shanny was the one I think she. I think 105 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 1: Lily was more hanging around with Shanny. Well that's what 106 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 1: I mean. I mean, it's Luke critive to be hanging 107 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 1: around any of them when you don't have a following yourself. 108 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: Talking about looking at old videos, I saw the first 109 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:18,919 Speaker 1: video on Michael's channel that Sharanny was in and it 110 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: was actually the second time they had met, and they 111 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 1: were filming at her house in Brisbane because he'd come 112 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,599 Speaker 1: and stayed over for a sleepover at her house. And 113 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:29,040 Speaker 1: it was so funny because they did not seem like 114 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 1: it was the second time they'd met. They were like 115 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 1: razzing each other up, being so rude to each other, 116 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 1: and they had such good chemistry and banter on camera. Oh, 117 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,720 Speaker 1: Michael Finch literally burped in her face and they said, Oh, 118 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 1: all you do is fart around me, Shanny. That was 119 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,919 Speaker 1: so funny because Sharanny was answering a question about what 120 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: her biggest pet peeves were and she goes people burping 121 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 1: in my face and Michael had just done it to her. 122 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 1: I feel like Michael's content started changing though when he 123 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:55,359 Speaker 1: met Shanny, because he used to do all of the 124 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,599 Speaker 1: makeup tutorials. But when he finally was hanging out with Sharny, 125 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: that's when he started vlogging, and I feel like more 126 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: of his personality came out and more people started loving him. 127 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 4: Yeah. 128 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:06,839 Speaker 1: I feel like that was sort of the evolution of 129 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: YouTube though, because in the early days of YouTube, so 130 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: many people gained traction by copying other people's videos, whether 131 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 1: it was twenty four hour challenge videos or trending makeup topics. 132 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 1: So yeah, it's really interesting to look at his growth 133 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 1: in that respect. I also find it fascinating because clearly 134 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:27,240 Speaker 1: a lot of YouTubers make a bigger following by teaming 135 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: up with other YouTubers. We've seen it with Saffron Barker 136 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: and Anastasia kings North they met online as well. It's 137 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 1: clearly a lucrative thing. It's like they kind of created 138 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:38,480 Speaker 1: their own Australian high powers in the US when they've 139 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:41,280 Speaker 1: got all the creators that come together. Yeah, and we've 140 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: got to remember this was a time when a beauty 141 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 1: influencer could really make or break a makeup brand. Yes, 142 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 1: we've got TikTok now and products can go off, but 143 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 1: the influencer space wasn't as saturated. 144 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 4: Yeah. 145 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 1: It was also at a time though, when gifting and 146 00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 1: collaborations weren't publicized as being so I was very much 147 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 1: in the infantry. 148 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 4: Yeah. 149 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 1: It was the wild West then, so a lot of 150 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 1: influencers could just cleverly integrate. Oh this is my new 151 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: favorite foundation. Oh this is my new favorite makeup palette. 152 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 1: And they'd just been gifted it by brands. But they 153 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: were also making a lot of money off some of 154 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: these deals. And the biggest brands at the time were Anastasia, 155 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 1: Beverly Hills. I mean, I haven't really heard of them 156 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 1: for a while. I don't buy any of their products anymore. 157 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:26,119 Speaker 1: We had the tart shaped tape, which Michael Finch seemed 158 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: to swear by. Oh. They were always going on about 159 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: Morphy as well, and I did see a loog. Shanni 160 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: mentioned the Becker highlighter. Yeah, it was a Conic highlighter. 161 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 1: I loved it. I also couldn't get past Shanny's really 162 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: thick eyebrows. They were quite iconic at the time. I 163 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 1: remember Michael Finch always used to say they looked like slugs. 164 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 1: It was quite mean. It's interesting because I was listening 165 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 1: to this interview with Britney Saunders, and she was saying 166 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 1: that when she first got on YouTube, she started posting 167 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: about makeup, but she wasn't even interested in it. Because 168 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 1: everyone else was sharing about it. It was really the 169 00:07:57,680 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 1: only way to get big on YouTube and then from 170 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 1: their if you've got a following for being good at makeup, 171 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 1: you could then start doing vlogs. That's so true, and 172 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: I think that's why Michael has done so well because 173 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: he was actually working as a makeup artist. He was 174 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 1: doing people's makeup. He was actually was talented. Just yeah 175 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: in it now. In addition to making beauty products sell out, 176 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 1: Michael and Shannie also had the ability to make catch 177 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 1: phrases and words go off. They even had their own 178 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 1: language at one point, and their catchphrases was so iconic 179 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: that Michael and Shanni launched a collaboration with Beginning boutique. 180 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 1: Do you guys remember these clothes? Yes? I do. I 181 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 1: actually think I've one of you. Bought me the hat 182 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:34,679 Speaker 1: that has thank you on it? 183 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 4: Oh? 184 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: Really, I bought the socks I reckon that. I feel 185 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 1: like Michael Finch might have packed them himself though, Okay, Oh, 186 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 1: I think Beginning boutique's quite big. I don't know if 187 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 1: Amy you're thinking of. They had their own brand, so 188 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 1: Shanny did have SG the label for a while. I 189 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: think they were watches, and then they launched their own 190 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,320 Speaker 1: brand and started selling their catch phrases on that as well. 191 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: These clothes were hideous because you hear about brand collaborations 192 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: now with influencers, and the influencers will pick, you know, 193 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 1: design outfits and stuff. But these were literally just merch 194 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 1: So some of the tops had sea or thank you 195 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: on there or not a problem like I just I 196 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:11,440 Speaker 1: mean very much relating to a teenage audience. It's pretty 197 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 1: clever though. I'm sure this stuff just sold out instantly. Oh, 198 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 1: I mean their catch phrases were everywhere. This wasn't just 199 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: a small corner of the Internet that was saying them. 200 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:22,560 Speaker 1: Let's throw it to some of these iconic phrases because 201 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 1: I think people enjoy hearing them. 202 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 3: Again, Get in there, Bindy, way back on the butler. 203 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 2: You know what I'm saying, Ell you fucking serious, that's 204 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:37,760 Speaker 2: a problem that like, I kind of fucker dark BINDI. 205 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: Listening to all those grabs, it just reminded me of 206 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: an iconic YouTube video that came out someone made. It 207 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 1: was like a mock version of an Alexa bring Brought 208 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: Home to a family, except it had the voice of 209 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 1: Michael Finch and of his friend Chris Fox, and it 210 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: was their iconic catchphrases like it was just this Alexa 211 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 1: just yelling at the household. It was friggin' hilarious. 212 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 3: Can you hear me? Nope, it only hears you when 213 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 3: you use the week word. We chose Alexa. 214 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 1: We want to Alexa, what time is it? 215 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:16,679 Speaker 3: I think you need to relax. 216 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:18,679 Speaker 1: What time is it? 217 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:20,839 Speaker 2: Sit down, take a step back, take three steps to 218 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 2: the left, four steps to the right. Get fucked. 219 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 1: And that's the thing. Though not everyone got on board 220 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 1: with these catch phrases, particularly the language that they developed, 221 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: which really seemed to get on people's nerves during one 222 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 1: of their trips to the US. So basically I think 223 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 1: it was Rannie Sky, Wheatley, Shannye, Michael Finch, a couple 224 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 1: of mothers, Lily Brown, they were all on this trip 225 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: and they kept speaking in that voice and Candlestick and 226 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 1: everything the whole time. Oh, the Kendle thing was so confusing. 227 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 1: I actually watched their recent shot at video. Lily and 228 00:10:51,679 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: Michaels and I didn't even know what they were talking 229 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:55,559 Speaker 1: about half the time because they kept saying Kendall Jenna 230 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 1: all the time. Yeah, I think they took it a 231 00:10:57,360 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: bit farther, But how hilarious for them knowing that they're 232 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 1: were all of these kids in school yards just copying 233 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:06,320 Speaker 1: everything they said. Michael definitely didn't understand the hate that 234 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: was being thrown towards his catch phrases. Here's what he said. 235 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 2: I literally had no idea how offended people can get 236 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 2: by me saying cue or just anyone saying cute. Like 237 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 2: it's just one of those fucking stupid things that me 238 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 2: and Shiny kind of just made up. And you know, 239 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 2: it's just said a lot now. 240 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:29,319 Speaker 3: I'll just drop my brash. 241 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 2: It's just said by a lot of people now, and 242 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 2: you know, just different scenarios like one time when me 243 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:37,600 Speaker 2: and Shiny were in Bali and I was really drunk 244 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 2: and we're going back to the hotel and I was 245 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 2: walking past every single door going The amount of people 246 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 2: that have done that and sent it to me on 247 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 2: Twitter is amazing. When you guys like copy scenarios like that, 248 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 2: it fucking kills us, like we die, We love it 249 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 2: so much, and just like when you get your parents 250 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 2: to say, like, BINDI come in now, hilarious, fucking hilarious. 251 00:11:57,440 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 2: You guys are great, but yeah, so many people get 252 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 2: so offended. Like I did not know it was such 253 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 2: an offensive thing. I said something on Twitter this morning, 254 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 2: and it's literally a status that someone's made saying can 255 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 2: people stop thank you or thank you? Michael Finch ain't shit? Well, 256 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 2: I mean, obviously, if it's getting to the point where 257 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:15,200 Speaker 2: you need to make a status, it must be a 258 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:17,840 Speaker 2: lot of people and getting really annoying. So if that 259 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:20,319 Speaker 2: means that I ain't shit, then you can eat my ass. 260 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 1: I do think it has a lot to do with 261 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 1: this group coming together, because, as we mentioned earlier, this 262 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:31,079 Speaker 1: friendship group was very influential and Shannie and Michael literally 263 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 1: launched the social media careers of Lily Brown and Rannie 264 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 1: Bransby and to an extent, Sky Wheatley because I remember 265 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 1: Sky had been on Big Brother, but she wasn't really 266 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 1: that popular on YouTube, and both Lily and her were 267 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 1: just hanging around this group like a bad smell. When 268 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 1: I was doing research for this episode, it was the 269 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 1: first video I'd seen Lily and Michael in together and 270 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: she was just like staring at the vlogging camera, like 271 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 1: trying to be so over the top. And it's pretty 272 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 1: interesting because they recently came out and said that they 273 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 1: used to take shots of Oxy Shrow to be so 274 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 1: hyped up here for the videos. Yeah, that makes more 275 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 1: and more sense, doesn't it. Yeah, do you remember Lily 276 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:07,959 Speaker 1: also used to come up to the camera and just 277 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 1: be like trying to smash the camera lens with her fingernail. Well, 278 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 1: she did catch the attention of a lot of followers 279 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:16,079 Speaker 1: when she met Michael Finch and Charny for the first 280 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 1: time at that Melbourne meetup, and basically she kept just 281 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 1: yelling the whole time, and she kept being in the 282 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: background of Michael Finch's snapchat. It was just like a 283 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:26,839 Speaker 1: competition who could be more stupid And I think that's 284 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 1: why the group didn't work. We will go into that 285 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: in next week's episode. Yeah, it was really who could 286 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 1: be the most obnoxious. Yeah, but it was such huge 287 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 1: stakes for them because, for example, look at Lily how 288 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 1: much her career has exploded from just being friendly with 289 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: them and launching a channel. They must have had so 290 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 1: many people trying to befriend them just to get that 291 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 1: internet fame. Now, one of my all time favorite YouTube 292 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 1: videos has to be a balley trip that Michael and 293 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: Channey went on together and it was Michael's first time overseas, 294 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:02,400 Speaker 1: and Shiny revealed that Mychael didn't actually know how to swing. 295 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 1: He didn't really know much because like she kept quizzing 296 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:08,680 Speaker 1: him about Barley belly and he could see the sea 297 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 1: in the horizon and He's like, can I get Bari 298 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 1: belly from the sea or it's got salt in it? 299 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:16,319 Speaker 1: Like he was just so confused. Well, we forget how 300 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 1: young he was now. Shani also shared Michael's lack of 301 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: understanding when it came to geography. Let's throw to what 302 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 1: he said. 303 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 4: So I was just waiting for our taxi and Michael 304 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 4: literally just asked the best question, you know how He's 305 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 4: like really good with geography and all of that good stuff. 306 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 4: He's like, don't film this, but can I ask your 307 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 4: own question? He said, are we like still in the 308 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 4: world like that little blue ball? Are we like there? 309 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 4: And I'm like, well, yeah, Bally is in earth. 310 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 1: This is gonna be my favorite clip from YouTube. It's ironic, 311 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: it's absolutely hilarious. I do love that he let it 312 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: go to air as well. Now we have been speaking 313 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 1: a bit about this trip to the US, and I 314 00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:00,320 Speaker 1: do think it's spelt the beginning of the end for 315 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 1: this group and the popularity that they were experiencing at 316 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 1: the time, because when they were all filming together, it 317 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 1: felt like they were all trying to compete and outdo 318 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 1: each other and who was the loudest, who was the silliest. 319 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: That's because they were all just on oxy shredded. Maybe 320 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 1: that's way it seems so chaotic. Yeah. The thing is, 321 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: even though there was his undercurrent of competition within that 322 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: friendship group, it was a really important group of friends 323 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 1: for Michael and he actually made the move across to 324 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 1: Brisbane from Regional Victoria to be closer to his friends. Yeah, 325 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: and this was at a time when his YouTube career 326 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 1: was really booming, and I think that he needed his 327 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 1: friends and that vibrancy to be in the video. I mean, 328 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:41,960 Speaker 1: it would be hard to go back to your hometown 329 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 1: in Regional Victoria and be filming these elaborate videos. I mean, 330 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 1: I know his mum was in some of them, but 331 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 1: it seemed like all his friends were in Brisbane. That's 332 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: the thing. He would often travel to Brisbane to see 333 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 1: Shani and his other YouTube friends, and it's so funny 334 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 1: because he would film videos where he'd be third wheeling 335 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 1: with Jonathan and shann and this took me back. I 336 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: love that time of YouTube. I love like Jonathan was 337 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 1: the ideal boyfriend. I actually recently watched a vlog where 338 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 1: Michael was visiting and they went for a high this 339 00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 1: mountain together and Jonathan had been relegated to the backseat 340 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: and he could tell you wasn't happy about it, and 341 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 1: it was just so funny. How tall is Jonathan because 342 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 1: he and Shannie looked the same high but now he's 343 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 1: pretty tall. Yeah, because I'm going to say, now he's 344 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 1: with Madison Woolley, who looks quite sure. I'm like, is 345 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: Jonathan tull? Guy? What I recall seeing Michael and Shane's 346 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 1: trip to Barley, and then I remember Shanne and Jonathan 347 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: went to Barley and it was so evident she had 348 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: such a better time with Michael. Yeah, who wouldn't. He's hilarious, 349 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 1: I know, and I think not that long after that's 350 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: when Shannee and Jonathan called a quit well for the 351 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 1: first time. That we will actually be looking into that 352 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: in another subscriber episode. Now. It was the first time 353 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 1: that Michael lived out of home, and he decided that 354 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 1: he wanted to live by himself because he said he 355 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: liked his own personal space and he didn't want anyone 356 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 1: at home whilst he was filming during the day and 357 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:05,160 Speaker 1: amy these moving vlogs. They were iconic, they really were. 358 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 1: I think they're one of my all time favorite YouTube 359 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:11,120 Speaker 1: videos because they were just so much fun because Michael 360 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 1: moved over with his mum and his dad came to help. 361 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 1: And I think anytime you watch all those, you know 362 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 1: that they're shopping at Kmart getting all the furniture, and 363 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: he was just so boogie. But you feel really nostalgic, 364 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:23,920 Speaker 1: I suppose, thinking back when you moved out of home. 365 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:26,760 Speaker 1: I do love how clueless he was because we'll go 366 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 1: into it more next week. But he has really become 367 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 1: this chef on TikTok, whereas when he moved out of 368 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 1: his home, he didn't know anything about cookie. You remember, 369 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 1: he was just making all these big like jugs of 370 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: juice of fresh like green juice, so cute, and his 371 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: apartment had very twenty seventeen vibes, so he had a 372 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 1: really large black leather reclined couch. He also had those 373 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 1: huge display jars, very similar to what Chloe Kardashian had, 374 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: and they were filled with cookies and lollies and chocolate, 375 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: and I remember he was saying in the vlog to 376 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:59,640 Speaker 1: his mum stop eating all of them. But he also 377 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:01,200 Speaker 1: said that he didn't want have any junk food in 378 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:03,840 Speaker 1: the house apart from the jars. I do remember his 379 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 1: iconic Christmas tree, like I recall, he put it up 380 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 1: really really early and it was like the most bougie 381 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:12,400 Speaker 1: I think it was. It was black silver Christmas tree 382 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:15,200 Speaker 1: was amazing well, as all YouTubers do. He also had 383 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: a designated YouTube room, which of course had two very 384 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: large Ikea draws. To remember those drawers, every YouTuber had them, 385 00:18:22,560 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 1: and they had all of their makeup perfectly sectioned off 386 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 1: in their ogi's will. Also remember that in the background 387 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 1: he had a very large portrait of himself holding Shani 388 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 1: Grimman's dog Bindi. He was obsessed with Bindy. He actually 389 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: moved across the road from Shanny so he could get 390 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 1: to Bindy and take Bindy for walks and visit Bindi. 391 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 1: I didn't know that they lived so close. I realized 392 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:45,679 Speaker 1: that either do you think he was obsessed with the 393 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:47,919 Speaker 1: dog or it just became a thing because it was 394 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 1: his catchphrase. No, I think he was. I think he 395 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: loved the dogs animals. I mean, he's got a couple 396 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:56,719 Speaker 1: of dogs himself. Now, shortly after the move, fans started 397 00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:59,399 Speaker 1: trying to guess where he lived, and he addressed this 398 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 1: on YouTube, saying he was aware of numerous Facebook threads 399 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:05,359 Speaker 1: where people were trying to guess his address. He then 400 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 1: warned his followers if anyone rocked up to his house, 401 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:10,239 Speaker 1: they shouldn't expect him to be nice, and that he 402 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:13,120 Speaker 1: deserves privacy just as much as everyone else. I think 403 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:15,600 Speaker 1: this just shows how big he was at the time, 404 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 1: the fact that people were putting energy into working out 405 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:20,920 Speaker 1: where he lived because they wanted to meet him so much. 406 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 1: So from Barker on a recent podcast interview, and she 407 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 1: was saying, at one stage they had so many people 408 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 1: rocking up to their front door because people had pieced 409 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 1: it all together, and that's one of the big reasons 410 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:34,680 Speaker 1: why her family ended up moving. But you can see 411 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:37,920 Speaker 1: how easily people can guess, Actually, there's a guy on TikTok, 412 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 1: and basically people send him a video of where they are, 413 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 1: Like it could just be out the back in your backyard, 414 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:46,879 Speaker 1: and he can guess where you are just by piecing 415 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 1: a few details together. It's actually so much so people 416 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 1: send that in just to see if he can work 417 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:53,639 Speaker 1: it out. It's to show how people have to be 418 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 1: extra careful when they're online. But think how much Michael 419 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:57,919 Speaker 1: was sharing at the time, Like he was going to 420 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 1: the local shopping centers. You could work out what cafes 421 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 1: he was at well, it was pretty easy. He was 422 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 1: also showing his view a lot of the time, and 423 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 1: also he was often sharing about pre drinks that he'd 424 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:13,400 Speaker 1: have at his house and they would say, oh, yeah, 425 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 1: we're going out to so Hopes. And it seemed like 426 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 1: when he did move he was also just going out 427 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 1: drinking a lot more. He did say that he would 428 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:22,400 Speaker 1: run into a lot of fans when he was out 429 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: at a club, and he got a bit embarrassed about 430 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:27,479 Speaker 1: it because he said sometimes when he was blackout drunk, 431 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:30,400 Speaker 1: he would without knowing, be rude to fans. So fans 432 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:32,160 Speaker 1: would like say, oh I like your makeup or ask 433 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:34,679 Speaker 1: for a photo, and he would just say nothing. But 434 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 1: then on the other hand, sometimes he said he just 435 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 1: spent too much money on fans because if one came 436 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: up to him at the bar, he would shout the 437 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:44,359 Speaker 1: whole friendship group drinks and he just wanted to he 438 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:47,399 Speaker 1: felt like he was indebted to them. So this probably 439 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 1: was probably all these like varying reports about him. Like 440 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:53,920 Speaker 1: next bit, it was really rude. Yeah. Well, at the 441 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:56,639 Speaker 1: time he moved to Brisbane, he had surpassed one hundred 442 00:20:56,680 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 1: thousand followers on YouTube, so he was rapid growing in popularity. 443 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:04,160 Speaker 1: And it's not clear how, but this is when Michael 444 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 1: crosspath with serial entrepreneur and now controversial owner of Slickstick, 445 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:13,399 Speaker 1: Mia Plasic. So Mia quickly became Michael's manager and started 446 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 1: strategizing how to make serious bank Yeah, and she started 447 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:20,440 Speaker 1: testing the water with meat and greets. And I did 448 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 1: have a big laugh at this video because it was 449 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:27,159 Speaker 1: a professional video shot in twenty eighteen. And in the 450 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 1: video we see Mia and Michael making their way to 451 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 1: the first meet and greet, and it literally looked like 452 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:36,320 Speaker 1: designer brands had vomited on them. So they were both 453 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:40,840 Speaker 1: wearing black designer shirts and they were strutting towards the camera. 454 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 1: It was at that time when obnoxious designer gear with 455 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: all the logos was all the rage. And to top 456 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 1: this off, the pair arrived to the meet and greet 457 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:54,399 Speaker 1: in eight rolls and literally we see fans mobbing the 458 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 1: car and screaming and Michael puts down the window and 459 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:01,159 Speaker 1: waves to everyone. It just wore wasn't the vibe that 460 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 1: any influencer would want to give out? Now, It's not 461 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 1: really that raw, relatable vibe that people are trying to 462 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:09,640 Speaker 1: push on Instagram at the moment, don't you think when 463 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 1: you look back, it's actually a real US influencer vibe 464 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 1: to give out. And maybe that was me as do it. 465 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 1: I think they were considered more of a celebrity though, 466 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:20,440 Speaker 1: because it wasn't a saturated market. We didn't have all 467 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 1: these people wanting to be influencers and all these influencers. 468 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:24,960 Speaker 1: It was only a couple of people that were very 469 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:27,639 Speaker 1: well known. Yeah. Now this meet and greet, it was 470 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 1: held at Sephora, and they had some very strong brand 471 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:34,719 Speaker 1: collaborations and the whole of Sephora was filled with fans 472 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:38,480 Speaker 1: who had apparently lined up since eleven the night before, 473 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:42,000 Speaker 1: and the line was literally so large that it stretched 474 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:44,400 Speaker 1: around the block. It was very reminiscent of the crowds 475 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,440 Speaker 1: we saw who rocked up for Anna Paul and from 476 00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:49,640 Speaker 1: looking at the girls in line, it took me back 477 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:53,119 Speaker 1: so much because I forgot at the time what a 478 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:55,879 Speaker 1: uniform we used to wear. And the uniform was black 479 00:22:55,880 --> 00:22:58,399 Speaker 1: skinny jeans and a danim jacket. All of them were 480 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 1: wearing it. Yeah, but then with all extreme makeup like 481 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:03,919 Speaker 1: that Shanni and Michael would do. I recall at the 482 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:06,840 Speaker 1: time of this meet and greet, remember Kendall and Kylie 483 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:08,880 Speaker 1: were doing all those meet and greets around the US, 484 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:10,920 Speaker 1: and then they came to Australia. That's probably where the 485 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:15,440 Speaker 1: Kundall Jenna thing came. Maybe now. Shortly after the success 486 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:18,160 Speaker 1: of this meet and greet, Michael announced that he would 487 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 1: be touring around Australia and New Zealand holding makeup master classes. 488 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,679 Speaker 1: And this was a stroke of marketing genius because he 489 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,480 Speaker 1: would use models to do makeup on and all of 490 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:31,639 Speaker 1: the models were his famous YouTube friends. So Lily Brown 491 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:35,680 Speaker 1: attended quite a number of these master classes, and Shannee's 492 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,680 Speaker 1: dog Bindy even made he put makeup ONDI no, he 493 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:42,119 Speaker 1: didn't put makeup dog. Yeah, they brought Bindi in and 494 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,560 Speaker 1: he was very protective over Bindi. He's like, everyone be quiet, 495 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 1: she gets really scared. And I was actually quite astounded 496 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:52,639 Speaker 1: by how expensive these tickets were. Do you remember, well, 497 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 1: I remember at the time he did come to Adelaide 498 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 1: and I kind of wanted to go, but then they 499 00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:58,199 Speaker 1: were way too expensive. What were they? 500 00:23:58,280 --> 00:23:58,440 Speaker 4: Oh? 501 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:02,199 Speaker 1: I couldn't believe it. So general admission was four hundred 502 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:06,240 Speaker 1: and ninety nine dollars and VIP was six hundred and fifty. 503 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:08,119 Speaker 1: This is making me feel better about what we spent 504 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:10,359 Speaker 1: on Taylor Swift. It's no offence to Michael Fish. And 505 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:13,040 Speaker 1: this was like six years ago, and the master classes 506 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:15,600 Speaker 1: were described as being limited, so there were spots for 507 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 1: two hundred people at each session. Now I did the 508 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:21,919 Speaker 1: quick sums on this. So if we say half of 509 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:24,880 Speaker 1: the crowd of general admission and half for VIPs, that 510 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 1: means that Michael was making approximately one hundred and fourteen 511 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:31,480 Speaker 1: one thousand of each show. So he did a total 512 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 1: of six shows. That's six hundred and eighty four thousand dollars. 513 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:38,280 Speaker 1: And I feel like the overheads aren't huge. I mean, yes, 514 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:40,840 Speaker 1: he has to travel to the cities. But he's just 515 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:43,200 Speaker 1: using makeup that he probably got for free, no wonder 516 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:45,679 Speaker 1: he was rocking up in the gold Rolls Royce. What 517 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:48,520 Speaker 1: did you get for being a VIP, Well, you basically 518 00:24:48,560 --> 00:24:51,560 Speaker 1: got a goodie bag. So this as a VIP, well yeah, 519 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:54,840 Speaker 1: but as journal sound like Taylor Swissing concert. Yeah, so 520 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 1: general admission and VIP they both got goodie bags. But 521 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 1: obviously if you're in VIP were slightly different. Now, a 522 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 1: lot of the items were samples, so there were samples 523 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:09,679 Speaker 1: from benefits. They also had a tansy eyemask. There was 524 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 1: a beginning boutique drink bottle, inglot samples, a bottle of 525 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:17,480 Speaker 1: BONDII sand, some lashes. It sounds like an influencers starter kit. 526 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:19,840 Speaker 1: Well they were lighter gummy Yeah, lighter gummies. They were 527 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:25,000 Speaker 1: so twenty seventeen. He also sold exclusive merch at these masterclasses, 528 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 1: so then another stream of revenue. Surely the VIP's got 529 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 1: to meet him. Well yeah, So basically the whole premise 530 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 1: was that they would hire out a function space, generally 531 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 1: an area where businesses would hold conferences. So they had 532 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:40,639 Speaker 1: a stage up the front where Michael would do his 533 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 1: makeup tutorial. There was also a camera and a big 534 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:46,320 Speaker 1: screen so you could see the zoomed in effect of 535 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 1: the makeup. There was also time for questions, a meet 536 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 1: and greet, and of course some selfies, but yet not 537 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:54,240 Speaker 1: really getting that much for all of that money. I 538 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:57,159 Speaker 1: want to know how much of a Cutmea got from this. Well. 539 00:25:57,200 --> 00:25:59,520 Speaker 1: I wouldn't be surprised if this is the straw that 540 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 1: broke the cup animals back in terms of their working 541 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:05,720 Speaker 1: relationship together, because rumors floating around the place are that 542 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:09,200 Speaker 1: they didn't end things very nicely. It's not surprising because 543 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 1: Michael seems like a sweetheart, whereas there's differing opinions on Mea. Yeah, 544 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:17,640 Speaker 1: it's so funny because she just came across as such 545 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 1: a dick. It is interesting how much Michael has changed 546 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:23,040 Speaker 1: since having Mea as his manager, because when she was 547 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 1: managing him, it really was when he was wearing all 548 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:29,439 Speaker 1: the expensive brands and being a little bit unrelatable. Do 549 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:31,680 Speaker 1: you also find it interesting that she set up all 550 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:34,879 Speaker 1: of these master classes and meet and greets at Sephora, 551 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 1: and now she's gone on to create her own makeup 552 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:41,040 Speaker 1: brand of sorts like the hair Tool. I think she's 553 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:43,560 Speaker 1: one of those people that had probably been sniffing around 554 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:46,040 Speaker 1: Michael a bit like you. Maybe she was maybe a 555 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:49,960 Speaker 1: literally Brown in Melbourne, but yeah, she seemed to be 556 00:26:50,359 --> 00:26:53,240 Speaker 1: just waiting for a big opportunity like that to attach 557 00:26:53,280 --> 00:26:55,879 Speaker 1: herself to someone so well known like Michael Vinn. The 558 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:59,240 Speaker 1: opportunity to appear in his blogs and be associated with 559 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:01,439 Speaker 1: him was a big deal at the time. Even the 560 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 1: fact that she would be the MC and announce Michael 561 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:08,639 Speaker 1: Finch and Lily Brown like it was just so cringe. 562 00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:12,879 Speaker 1: It's quite clear that Michael's openness with his following though, 563 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:15,240 Speaker 1: did really strike a chord with followers, and at the 564 00:27:15,359 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 1: master classes they would bring him lots of presents and 565 00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:21,560 Speaker 1: fan mail. I used to love seeing him open. Here's 566 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:22,720 Speaker 1: Michael reading out a few. 567 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 2: I feel like when you read letters from like subscribers 568 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:29,680 Speaker 2: and stuff, like, some of them are like they really 569 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:31,560 Speaker 2: hit home for you, Like you just don't know what 570 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:33,840 Speaker 2: they're going to say or like have a help dure 571 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:37,120 Speaker 2: or anything like that, so you have to like mentally prepare. 572 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:39,040 Speaker 3: Yourself to read them. 573 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:41,720 Speaker 2: I'm just going to read another one. Dear Michael, thank 574 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:45,400 Speaker 2: you for absolutely everything. Not only are you an icon, 575 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 2: thank you for the makeup industry, but you have made 576 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:50,920 Speaker 2: an influence on who I am today, and I'm sure 577 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:54,600 Speaker 2: many others agree. After struggling with depression and anxiety or videos, 578 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:57,639 Speaker 2: your videos were always there to calm me, and for that, 579 00:27:57,680 --> 00:28:00,160 Speaker 2: I'm forever grateful. Thank you once again for everything being 580 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:01,040 Speaker 2: an amazing person. 581 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:03,359 Speaker 1: I feel like if Michael Finch is wearing all these 582 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:05,920 Speaker 1: big brands now and showing off about the expensive things 583 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:08,880 Speaker 1: that he had, people wouldn't like it. But back then, 584 00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:12,640 Speaker 1: because he was so relatable, I think people thought, oh, 585 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:16,040 Speaker 1: it's possible to be like him. If I emulate his behavior, 586 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:18,480 Speaker 1: I could be him. Yeah. I recall watching his stuff 587 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,240 Speaker 1: at the time and I wasn't like, oh my god, 588 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:22,560 Speaker 1: that's outrageous that he spent that much. That was kind 589 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:24,920 Speaker 1: of his personality at the time was Oh, he's a 590 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:27,480 Speaker 1: little bit bougie and he's fabulous and look what he's got. 591 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 1: It's kind of like the Kardashians when you watch that 592 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 1: and you watch more in Awe and Entertainer. But I 593 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 1: think it's more that he was one of us, so 594 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:37,720 Speaker 1: we won't see him do well as well. With the Kardashians, 595 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:39,720 Speaker 1: it's like they've never been one of us. I think 596 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 1: it was also very much of the time, though in 597 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 1: twenty seventeen, a lot of audiences weren't questioning as much 598 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 1: what influences were doing. We were just sort of going 599 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:51,440 Speaker 1: along for the ride. Yeah, well, that's where we're going 600 00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:53,840 Speaker 1: to leave things today. Next week we will be getting 601 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:56,960 Speaker 1: to the bottom of Michael's friendship breakdowns with Shanni Grimman 602 00:28:57,040 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 1: and Lily Brown, as well as how Michael Finch went 603 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 1: from baiting under his eyes to becoming a TikTok cooking sensation. 604 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 1: This podcast was recorded on the traditional land of the 605 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:09,480 Speaker 1: Ghana people of the Adelaide Plains. We pay respect to 606 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:10,800 Speaker 1: elders past and present