Looks like Chrissy Teigen’s got her finger on the pulse. “The Lip Sync Battle” star stirred a hornet’s nest with her take on the recent TikTok ban saga.
As millions of US users found their favourite app suddenly yanked from major stores like Apple and Google on Sunday, January 19, Teigen was quick to offer a bold theory that this was Donald Trump’s calculated effort to frame himself as the hero for the younger generation.
Teigen took to Instagram to share her thoughts ahead of the ban taking effect.
“Everyone’s bummed - ‘OMG, I can’t believe it’s shut down.’ It’s not going to be shut down,” she noted.
Teigen added: “[TikTok] is on a hiatus for now, and it’s gonna come back. And it’s gonna come back under Trump’s leadership, so every young person is going to be like, ‘OMG, I’m so grateful he brought it back, he brought back free speech.’”
Her prediction didn’t seem far off.
By Sunday, Trump announced on his “Truth Social” platform that he was stepping in to keep TikTok from “staying dark.”
Trump declared: “I am asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark!”
“I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect so that we can make a deal to protect our national security.”
In a subsequent statement, TikTok confirmed its platform was coming back online after President-elect Donald Trump, who was sworn in on Monday, January 20, provided the necessary assurances to the company’s service providers.
“In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service,” TikTok said in a post on X.
“We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive.”
“It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States,” the company added.
STATEMENT FROM TIKTOK:
In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170…