Netflix Gets Reality Check From Byron Bay Residents Opposing New Show
By Carly Mayberry
On 4/19/21 at 8:06 PM EDT
The reality show
Byron Baes, featuring social media influencers in a pristine coastal town, has caused chaos among the town s residents. Locals have started a petition signed by more than 6,000 people against the show being shot in the town. In addition, a protest paddle-out has been scheduled for April 20 via the town s Byron Bay Community Board page on Facebook.
Locals, including musician and owner of The Byron Bay General Store Ben Gordon, remain dead set against a multinational company that is trying to exploit the town s name when the community doesn t want it. Some area businesses, like the Byron Bay Café and local clothing stores, have refused to sign filming permits, keeping producers from recording footage on the premises.
Eve Jeffery
Faster than speeding reality TV producer, members of the Byron community have swiftly mounted a multi-pronged attack against the proposed ‘influencer’ based show
Byron Baes, and have already had two protests since Netflix announced the program less than two weeks ago. Paddlers prepare to head out to create the ‘No’ symbol. Photo Jeff Dawson.
Organiser Tess Hall said that she started a petition as soon as the show was announced. ‘I wanted to give our community a voice and to ensure that the planned Netflix production
Byron Baes is not granted filming permits that will allow them to film anywhere they please in our Shire and surrounds.’
Byron mayor Simon Richardson has also weighed in and is expected to bring an item before the councilâs meeting this Thursday denouncing the production.
Sally Wategoâs family are from the local area.
âI really donât like seeing whatâs been happening to the town,â she said.
âItâs been taken over. Local resident Sally Watego was among those who attended a paddle-out in protest against the planned Netflix reality series Byron Baes. Picture: Liana Boss
âI just think the town doesnât need any more promoting.
âThereâs a lot of issues in this town with real estate prices (and) homelessness.
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Meanwhile, Pat owns a sprawling rural property in Broken Head, right near Chris Hemsworth s $20million mega mansion.
He also owns an investment property in Tweed Heads West, which is less than an hour from Byron Bay.
Where are they from? Carissa, 33, hails from Sydney, while Pat, 48, was born in Mount Isa, Queensland
Following the crowd: Pat and Carissa both joined Byron Bay locals for the paddle-out protest against the new Netflix reality series
Pat and Carissa both joined Byron Bay locals for the paddle-out protest against the new Netflix reality series.
Others, who chose not to participate in the paddling, simply displayed placards that read give Netflix the flick and consult traditional owners .
Byron Bay locals protest planned Netflix reality series
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CANBERRA, Australia – Angry Byron Bay locals are protesting the filming of a reality television series that some fear will damage the reputation of their trendy Australian tourist town.
Around 100 surfers paddled to sea Tuesday to form a cancel symbol off the coast of the New South Wales state town in the hope that Netflix will can the series about social media influencers.
Several Byron Bay businesses have refused to sign filming permits that would allow “Byron Baes,” a contemporary abbreviation of “Byron Babes,” to be shot on their premises.
“It’s potentially going to threaten businesses if the portrayal of Byron is as absurd as I guess a lot of the doco-soap-reality shows are,” Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson told Australian Broadcasting Corp.