Celebs Who Were Caught with Fake Followers on Social Media

Lots of famous accounts have been scrutinized by researchers who analyze follower quality and engagement patterns, and several names consistently show up in reports about fake or inactive followers. These audits typically estimate the share of bots or dormant accounts using signals like activity history and follow churn. Platforms have also run their own purges that instantly removed locked or fake accounts, revealing how widespread the issue can be. Here are notable examples that were highlighted by studies and news coverage.

Ellen DeGeneres

Multiple roundups of an ICMP analysis reported that Ellen DeGeneres topped a list of celebrity Instagram accounts with unusually high proportions of suspected fake followers. Coverage summarized the study’s findings and placed her above other A-list names highlighted by the same audit. These results reflect a point-in-time snapshot of her audience quality on Instagram. They also illustrate how even the largest celebrity profiles can accumulate inactive or automated accounts over time.

BTS

Reports on the same ICMP audit noted that BTS ranked near the top among celebrity accounts with elevated shares of questionable Instagram followers. Media coverage emphasized that high-profile music accounts often attract large numbers of non-authentic profiles during growth spikes. These findings were widely reprinted by entertainment and marketing outlets summarizing the audit. The coverage underscored how follower quality can vary even when overall reach is massive.

Kourtney Kardashian

Articles citing the ICMP analysis placed Kourtney Kardashian among celebrities with a high percentage of likely fake followers on Instagram. Recaps of the audit grouped her with other household names from entertainment and fashion. The reporting interpreted the findings as a measurement of audience authenticity rather than a judgment about individual behavior. It highlighted how the scale of celebrity accounts can make them magnets for low-quality profiles.

Taylor Swift

Media summaries of the ICMP study listed Taylor Swift among the celebrity Instagram accounts with significant levels of suspicious or inactive followers. The analysis was presented as an estimate based on auditing tools that track engagement and follower characteristics. Coverage explained that the phenomenon is common for very large accounts that have grown across many eras of the platform. The takeaway was that headline figures can mask uneven audience quality.

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande appeared in multiple reports that relayed the ICMP audit’s findings about fake or inactive Instagram followers. These articles grouped her with other music and entertainment figures who showed elevated percentages at the time of the snapshot. The reports framed the numbers as indicators of audience authenticity rather than proof of intentional misconduct. They also pointed out that follower audits can change as platforms remove bad accounts.

Deepika Padukone

Indian business media and international outlets covering the ICMP analysis highlighted Deepika Padukone among celebrities with high estimated shares of bots or inactive Instagram followers. The coverage compared percentages across several well-known accounts from film and music. It stressed that the audit captured conditions at that moment and could shift after platform cleanups. The reports also explained that rapid follower growth can attract spam profiles.

Miley Cyrus

Roundups of the ICMP audit listed Miley Cyrus among celebrities whose Instagram audiences included a sizable portion of non-authentic followers. Entertainment publications reprinted the analysis alongside other big names from the same dataset. The framing emphasized how common fake or dormant accounts are across the largest profiles. It also noted that engagement rates often provide better context than raw follower totals.

Katy Perry

Katy Perry was cited in two contexts by major outlets. First, entertainment sites summarizing the ICMP analysis placed her among celebrities with elevated levels of suspicious Instagram followers. Second, during Twitter’s 2018 crackdown on locked and fake accounts, she was one of several top accounts that immediately lost a large number of followers, which illustrated the scale of inauthentic activity on that platform. Both sets of coverage showed how follower counts can shift when audits or purges occur.

Khloé Kardashian

Publications that relayed the ICMP findings included Khloé Kardashian in their lists of celebrity Instagram accounts with notable shares of fake or inactive followers. The reporting presented side-by-side percentages for several entertainment figures to show relative audience quality. It reiterated that such audits are estimates that can be revised after platform enforcement actions. The coverage encouraged marketers to look beyond headline follower numbers.

Priyanka Chopra

News coverage in India and abroad cited the ICMP analysis and listed Priyanka Chopra among celebrities with higher-than-average proportions of suspicious Instagram followers. Local reports contextualized her numbers alongside other film stars and global pop figures. The articles emphasized that these percentages reflect estimates from auditing tools and are not accusations of wrongdoing. They also noted that the composition of followers can change as fake accounts are removed.

Neymar

Industry press reported that Neymar appeared in the same cohort of celebrities flagged by the ICMP study for a higher share of fake or inactive Instagram followers. These write-ups discussed how sports stars with global fanbases are similarly affected by bot networks and dormant profiles. The coverage presented the numbers as an audience quality signal for advertisers. It suggested that periodic cleanups can materially alter these metrics.

Barack Obama

When Twitter removed locked and fake accounts in mid 2018, major outlets documented immediate follower drops for some of the platform’s largest profiles, including Barack Obama. The event illustrated how quickly headline counts can fall when inauthentic or compromised accounts are excluded from public tallies. Reports explained that locked accounts were those showing sudden behavior changes and required verification to return. The episode became a reference point for measuring the impact of purges on prominent users.

Share who else you think should be on this list in the comments.