Influencer Brags About Her Life In Bali, Then Gets Deported Because Of It

The pandemic has been rough for everyone, so it’s alright if you can’t seem to spare any tears for the travel influencers out there right now. Take Kristen Gray, for example.

Love Saundra/YouTube

American travel influencer Kristen Gray went viral on Twitter last week after talking about her experience living in Bali during the pandemic.

Now, she is being deported following an official investigation that said Gray violated a number of Balinese immigration laws.

Gray tweeted about Bali, offered tips regarding traveling during a pandemic, and promoted her e-book: Our Bali Life Is Yours.

Gray explained that she and her girlfriend Saundra had been living in Bali for more than a year after deciding to stay when the pandemic hit despite only having planned to stay for six months.

Gray praised Bali for its “safety, low cost of living, luxury lifestyle, [and] queer friendly and Black in Bali community.”

Gray’s tweets and the ones critical of her caught the attention of immigration officials. According to Balinese authorities, Gray may have violated a number of immigration laws, including spreading information that could “unsettle” the public

Folks on social media criticized Gray for exploiting Bali and encouraging travel during a pandemic.

https://twitter.com/nndjavanese/status/1351092816567541761

https://twitter.com/kaimatamusic/status/1350975254441680899

Gray and her girlfriend are currently being detained in Denpasar, Bali, awaiting the next flight out. She will not be allowed back in Bali for six months. 

In a brief statement to Balinese press, Gray said, “I am not guilty. I have not overstayed my visa. I have not made money in Indonesian rupiah in Indonesia. I put out a statement about LGBT, and I am being deported about LGBT.”

Gray’s Twitter and Instagram accounts are currently shut down.

Lead image: Twitter

Patricia Grisafi

Patricia Grisafi, PhD, is a freelance writer and educator. Her work has appeared in Salon, Vice, Bitch, Bustle, Broadly, The Establishment, and elsewhere. She is passionate about pit bull rescue, cursed objects, and designer sunglasses.