Should reality stars be travelling abroad for ‘work’ during the COVID restrictions?

The UK has been thrown into multiple lockdowns over the past ten months with people told to “stay at home” as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – meaning thousands of holidays were cancelled due to travel bans and the closure of hospitality around the world.

In mid-December, the UK was hit with another travel ban with a large proportion of the country placed in different tiers and urged not to travel unless it was for essential work purposes, which was followed by the third national lockdown. Despite this, social media is littered with pictures of reality stars from TOWIE, Love Island, Made In Chelsea and Geordie Shore soaking up the sun abroad – with many of the influencers defending their holidays as “work trips”, where they can create content for social-media platforms and be paid.

Many fans and followers have been in uproar, claiming celebs have flaunted the travel bans, while others have criticised the “tone deaf” decisions of the stars sharing pictures of themselves enjoying lavish holidays while so many in the UK have been devastated by the effects of the pandemic.

Love Island’s Zara Holland caused outrage when, after her boyfriend tested positive for coronavirus, she broke out of quarantine and attempted to get a flight back to the UK from Barbados – and was hit by a £4.5K fine after appearing in court days later.

Closer speaks to TOWIE’s Chloe Brockett and Kelsey Stratford about their differing opinions on whether stars should travel during the restrictions.