Scheduled to premiere globally on October 31, 2025, Bad Influencer is Netflix’s newest South African crime drama that reverberates with themes of ambition, deception, and the dangerous allure of social prestige. Produced by Gambit Films, the series is set in a society deeply obsessed with appearances where what you show online can be just as important as what you do in real life.
At its heart, Bad Influencer centers on BK, a single mother in financial trouble and small-time con artist, played by Jo-Anne Reyneke. She enters into a scheme with Pinky (Cindy Mahlangu), an aspiring influencer, to sell counterfeit luxury handbags online so BK can escape her debts.
What begins as a risky hustle soon escalates. The counterfeit business draws the attention of a ruthless crime boss and the police, bringing danger at both the underworld level and from law enforcement. This double threat forces BK and Pinky to juggle dual identities: the glamorous, curated influencer image, and the darker criminal reality lurking behind their operation. What begins as a risky hustle soon escalates. The counterfeit business draws the attention of a ruthless crime boss and the police, bringing danger at both the underworld level and from law enforcement. This double threat forces BK and Pinky to juggle dual identities: the glamorous, curated influencer image, and the darker criminal reality lurking behind their operation.
Netflix’s growing African slate has included content exploring corruption, identity, power, and now Bad Influencer adds a fresh angle by shining a light on fraud, fame, and survival in a digital-obsessed era. With its ambitious storyline, strong cast, and themes that feel very current, Bad Influencer looks set to be one of the more talked-about South African releases of 2025. Its blend of crime, drama, and cultural critique should appeal not only to local audiences but to viewers globally who are interested in the consequences of social media, image, and the often unseen cost of keeping up appearances.
