Netflix withholds 'influencer' prize pot after winner leaks results

Warning: Below you will find spoilers for Netflix’s “The Influencer.”

Netflix has announced that it will withhold the prize money from its South Korean reality competition series The Influencer after the show's winner leaked the results earlier this year – find out more below.

The Influencer showcased 77 South Korean influencers from platforms like YouTube, Instagram, AfreecaTV and more, each with their own niche content. In several challenges centered around “presence, influence and buzz,” contestants competed for the title of “Best Influencer” and the bulk of their 300 million KRW (224,000 USD) prize money.

However, now that the show has ended, Netflix has confirmed that it will not pay the prize money to the winner of the show due to a breach of contract after the winner leaked the results of the show in May.

In May, after filming for the show was completed, information leaked that YouTuber Oking had won the show. The leak resulted from a public dispute that Oking had with Choi and the former CEO of blockchain platform Winnerz pro Korea JoongAng Daily. The dispute arose due to alleged illegal activities that were carried out while Winnerz was issuing its own form of cryptocurrency, Winnerz Coin. Choi claimed that Oking was a board member of the platform. Oking has denied any involvement with Winnerz.

During the dispute, Choi announced on social media in May that Oking had told him that he was Netflix's The InfluencerHowever, noted that Oking had stated that the information could not be leaked or he would face a penalty for breaking his contract with the streaming platform. Since Oking had spoiled the show on a public platform, his win was considered a breach of contract.

Netflix said in a statement on Wednesday (21 August) Korea JoongAng Daily: “In order to maintain the credibility of the program and fairness among the participants, the prize will not be awarded to the winner of the The Influencer who have violated the confidentiality obligations set out in the performance contract.”

“Maintaining the confidentiality of a show before its release is a crucial measure to ensure the hard work and efforts of everyone involved in creating and delivering the show's full entertainment offering to the audience,” the streaming platform continued. “Such a measure is a promise between the staff and the participants who want the show to be a success.”

Netflix has not yet announced whether The Influencer will return for a second season.

Among the biggest names in the show’s first season were beauty creator Risabae, former Physical: 100 contestant Shim Euddeum and brand director and influencer Mejiwoo, who is also known as the older sister of BTS' J-Hope.