US creator Jake Shane faced criticism for his red carpet reporting on behalf of Vanity Fair at the Oscars 2026 after-party, reigniting the debate about influencers and their role in the media.
Creators are now part of the press cycle thanks to shows such as Therapuss and Royal Court. When influencers are taking on hosting duties outside of their own channels, it doesn’t always land as well, as seen with Vanity Fair bringing in Shane, Quenlin Blackwell and Brittany Broski for celebrity interviews. However, podcaster Mary Beth Barone at the Golden Globes was a hit.
Creators should be insiders, not interviewers. Fan girl moments, as seen with Haley Baylee’s content from awards shows, perform well and bring joy.
Watch CORQ’s trends editor Caroline Edwards’ explainer on the role of creators within the media and how brands should navigate this. Get a CORQ GPT rundown of influencers currently doing red carpet work in the UK here.
@corq.studio Vanity Fair’s Oscars after party interviews were conducted by creators Jake Shane, Quenlin Blackwell and Brittany Broski and received mixed reviews. CORQ’s journalist explains the role of creators as interviewers and red carpet hosts #influencermarketing #influencers #marketingtips
Picture credits: The Academy, Vanity Fair and Mary Beth Barone via TikTok
