Over the weekend, the allegation of plagiarism committed by a Singaporean TikTok influencer and General Paper (GP) tutor, Brooke Lim, was raised online.
Online Petition for Review of Ms. Lim's Admissions Essay to UCLA
According to the story by Straits Times, the Google document alleges Ms. Lim's essay titled 'On Being Afraid Of Eating' was published on her blog Grayscale Copy and Telegram channel and plagiarises over 70% of its content from five books and eight articles.
Ms. Lim has publicly apologized, admitting her mistake and taking down the essay. In the wake of this scandal, Ms. Lim has been subject to an online petition to have her admissions essay to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) reviewed for plagiarism.
The Impact of Brooke Lim's Admission of Wrongdoing
Following the admission of wrongdoing by TikTok influencer and General Paper (GP) tutor Brooke Lim, 19, it is understandable that many public members have felt disheartened and let down. As also explained in an article by Babel Fish.
The allegations of plagiarism, posted in a Google document by anonymous authors and made public on the @sugaresqueessay TikTok account, claim that parts of an essay that Ms. Lim had posted on her blog and Telegram channel contained material that was not her original work.
Demand for Review of Ms. Lim's Admissions Essay for Plagiarism
Almost immediately after the allegations were made, Ms. Lim released a statement to The Straits Times, taking full responsibility for her actions and apologizing to her followers, students, readers, and the authors of the works she had plagiarised from.
Despite this, many were not convinced that the apology was sincere, and a petition to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has now been circulating, demanding that Ms. Lim's admissions essay be reviewed for any further instances of plagiarism.
A Tale of Controversy: Examining the Implications of a Tuition Agency Owner Involved in Plagiarism
It is clear that many people are now uncertain as to whether Ms. Lim's successes and achievements are truly validated. Previously, ST had reported that Ms. Lim's tuition agency had made a six-figure profit six months back in 2022 and that she had amassed a formidable 183,000 followers on social media.
It remains to be seen what fallout will occur due to Ms. Lim's plagiarism and what implications this will have on her career, reputation, and business. This is not the first time a tutor or GP-based influencer has been embroiled in a plagiarism-related scandal, nor will it be the last.
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The Need for Caution Amongst Content Creators and Influencers
Still, this incident is an important reminder of the need for caution amongst all content creators and influencers. It is now up to Ms. Lim to take responsibility for her actions, reflect on how she may have made the wrong decision, and figure out how to make amends.
Her apology has been accepted by some and rejected by many, but she remains sure to face further criticism until she can make her wrongdoing right.
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