Byron Bay locals are ‘horrified, embarrassed and angry’ at Netflix’s new reality show Byron Baes

Netflix’s announcement of their new reality show Byron Baes has angered the residents of the once quiet coastal town on the New South Wales north coast.

And on Friday, Byron Bay locals did not hold back on the streaming service’s plans to film a reality show about the young Instagram influencers based in beachside town.

The scandalous series will focus on the catfights and love lives of popular influencers in the area. 

Not happy: Byron Bay locals are ‘horrified and angry’ at Netflix’s new reality show, Byron Baes

But Karen Justice, a long-term local of the town, told ABC she is ‘horrified, embarrassed and angry’.

She explained that if a show should be made, it should be about the real people who living there rather than the glamorous people who only recently made Byron their home to flaunt their lifestyles.

‘Our little home town has already been loved, do we really need more attention? Us true locals can soldier on, but I wish these others would bugger off,’ Ms Justice added.

Meanwhile, Mandy Nolan – a comedian and a Greens federal candidate – noted that a reality show is not what the area needs.

Influencer life: The series, which was announced by Netflix this week, will focus on the catfights and love lives of popular young influencers in the coastal town. Pictured left to right is Sammy Newton and Elyse Knowles

Influencer life: The series, which was announced by Netflix this week, will focus on the catfights and love lives of popular young influencers in the coastal town. Pictured left to right is Sammy Newton and Elyse Knowles

Not what Byron needs: Meanwhile, Mandy Nolan - a comedian and a Greens federal candidate - noted that a reality show is not what the area needs. She pointed out: 'Byron Bay doesn't need any more vacuous exposure, it needs housing, it needs urgent work on coastal erosion'

Not what Byron needs: Meanwhile, Mandy Nolan – a comedian and a Greens federal candidate – noted that a reality show is not what the area needs. She pointed out: ‘Byron Bay doesn’t need any more vacuous exposure, it needs housing, it needs urgent work on coastal erosion’

‘Byron Bay doesn’t need any more vacuous exposure, it needs housing, it needs urgent work on coastal erosion,’ she pointed out. 

The announcement of the reality show this week outraged Australians who flocked to Twitter to share their disbelief, including one who said: ‘Legitimately the worst idea since Married At First Sight.’

‘Never had a reason to cancel Netflix… until now,’ wrote another, while one user said they were so upset that the announcement had left them feeling ‘nauseous’.

 

 

Boycotting already: The announcement of the reality show this week outraged Australians who flocked to Twitter to share their disbelief, including one who said: 'Legitimately the worst idea since Married At First Sight'

Boycotting already: The announcement of the reality show this week outraged Australians who flocked to Twitter to share their disbelief, including one who said: ‘Legitimately the worst idea since Married At First Sight’

‘Zero respect for a town being torn apart by influencers chasing the perfect backdrop for crass commercial gain,’ added another. 

Byron Baes was announced on Thursday morning as the new Australian Netflix Original and will run for eight episodes in total. 

The Block star and model Elyse Knowles is ‘hotly tipped’ for a starring role in the series, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. 

Big reveal: Byron Baes was announced on Thursday morning as the new Australian Netflix Original and will run for eight episodes in total

Big reveal: Byron Baes was announced on Thursday morning as the new Australian Netflix Original and will run for eight episodes in total

Netflix’s director of content for Australia and New Zealand, Que Minh Luu, said giving the show the green light was a ‘no brainer’.

‘You’ve got this cabal, or live feed as we’ve been calling it, of Instagrammers, who all live up in Byron, and there are a lot of them,’ said Ms Luu. 

‘I’m not going to judge anyone for having a product to sell. Musicians have music to sell. I have ideas to sell,’ Ms Luu added.

The Block star and model Elyse Knowles is 'hotly tipped' for a starring role in the series, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Influencer power: Byron Baes was announced on Thursday morning as the new Australian Netflix Original and will run for eight episodes in total. The Block star and model Elyse Knowles is ‘hotly tipped’ for a starring role in the series, the Sydney Morning Herald reported

A press release for the program describes Byron Baes as a ‘docu-soap series’ and calls it ‘our love letter to Byron Bay’ that will also offer audience ‘fights, flings and heartbreak’.

It continues: ‘It’s not just Chris [Hemsworth] and Zac [Efron]’s backyard; it’s the playground of more celebrity-adjacent influencers than you can poke a selfie-stick at.’ 

Byron Baes is being produced by Eureka Productions.

Emma Lamb, who is known for her work on Married At First Sight and The Real Housewives of Sydney, will serve as the executive producer.

'Love letter to Byron Bay': A press release for the program describes Byron Baes as a 'docu-soap series' and calls it 'our love letter to Byron Bay' that will also offer audience 'fights, flings and heartbreak'

‘Love letter to Byron Bay’: A press release for the program describes Byron Baes as a ‘docu-soap series’ and calls it ‘our love letter to Byron Bay’ that will also offer audience ‘fights, flings and heartbreak’