Thirst Trap: The Fame. The Fantasy. The Fallout.

When 21-year-old William White posted a lip-synching video to TikTok, he hardly expected to become an internet sensation overnight. Sparking a “thirst trap” obsession with lovesick fans, the line between real connection and online fantasy was blurred as gained millions of fans. What first seemed like innocent interactions with self-formed fan-clubs for White, turned into jealousy, blackmail and betrayal by the fans who were determined to watch his every move online.