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Byron Bay is awash with celebrities. A Netflix reality show is the last straw for locals. Nick Baker
SYDNEY For residents of Byron Bay, living in paradise can be both a blessing and a curse.
The Australian beachside town of around 10,000 people has long been a magnet for those wanting to escape city life and experience the scenery and serenity of the country’s eastern coastline.
But over the years Byron Bay’s popularity has exploded, attracting millions of visitors annually and more recently, social media influencers and Hollywood celebrities seeking laid-back shelter in the country’s near pandemic-free conditions.
Byron Bay, known for its relaxed lifestyle, is fighting back in an effort to stop the show and what some see as a "vacuous, vapid, inaccurate depiction" of their hometown.
From Byron Bay to Bali, idyllic locations that depend on tourism for their livelihood often turn to social media influencers to drive visits. But a growing awareness of the negative impact on local communities and the environment is resulting in backlash.
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Subscriber only A planned reality television program based on Byron s influencer culture has been raised at a council meeting. While it has no power to exactly stop the production of the show, Byron Shire Council has made it clear it does not welcome it. Netflix has announced its plans for Byron Baes, a reality program to the produced by Eureka Productions. Thousands of people have signed a petition asking Netflix to scrap the show, a paddle-out was held at Byron s Main Beach this week and mayor Simon Richardson was quick to join the voices opposing the planned program.