Fans were concerned about social media star Gabbie Hanna as she was inactive on all of her accounts for a year. She has now reappeared and returned to social media after her hiatus.
Gabbie Hanna, 33, is an influencer who garnered popularity on the now-defunct video app Vine, and went on to develop a following on both YouTube and TikTok, as well as launch a music career. With millions of followers across multiple platforms, she has been a known influencer for over a decade.
In August 2022, Gabbie worried fans after posting over a hundred TikTok videos in one day, in which she discussed a variety of topics, including religion and death. She was also criticized for comments many described as racist.
Even though Gabbie made a comment a few days after the incident, addressing the concerns by saying she had gone through a manic episode due to her being bipolar, fans can’t help to continue to worry about her current absence.
During her time on social media, Gabbie has been involved in a number of controversies, including a feud with Angelika Oles. But when this happens, she usually stays away from the internet for a few days before coming back online after things calm down.
However, in 2023, something changed. Gabbie didn’t post anything on her social media pages for a year, and no one seemed to have heard from her until recently. So what happened?
Gabbie Hanna becomes fitness instructor
Between January 30 and February 28, Gabbie wasn’t active on any of her social media platforms. However, she was spotted for the first time in 9 months, when she appeared on the Instagram of the local YMCA in Hanna’s hometown of New Castle, Pennsylvania in December 2023.
The post was made to announce that Gabbie had been hired as their “newest instructor”.
“Hey everyone! Get ready to dance, move, and groove because Gabbie Hanna’s classes are about to kick off TONIGHT!,” the statement said along with a graphic listing Zumba, Ballet Body, and Stretch and Breath as some of Gabbie’s classes.
Gabbie also appeared in another post on the YMCA’s Instagram, where she promoted one of her classes. Fans were quick to comment on the post, saying that Gabbie “looked great” and “has the light in her eyes again.”
Gabbie Hanna shares her views on social media
In July 2023, Gabbie appeared on Prince Ea’s podcast Sauna Sessions where she talked about her views on social media and why she hasn’t been as active on her pages.
She revealed that she has deleted the apps from her phone, which could explain the lack of content these past few months.
Gabbie then went on to shock fans by talking about how she’s contemplating completely deleting her platforms.
She said: “I’m trying to work up the strength to actually delete. But I can’t figure out if that’s what I’m supposed to do or not. Specifically TikTok. Because I feel like TikTok is just like the cesspool the worst of the worst.”
After talking about what she didn’t like about TikTok, which included users “consuming trash,” Prince Ea went on to ask her about what she’d want the ideal social media platform to look like.
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“I don’t think any of us were meant to be on a platform in that way,” she said. “I don’t think any of us was meant to be, like, ‘famous’. I don’t think any of us was meant to have followers. I don’t think any of us was meant to idolize ourselves in that way. Because not only are we idolizing ourselves, but we’re making ourselves false idols.”
She went on to say that she’d much rather choose privacy than social media. She also revealed that she’d come to a realization recently in her life, where all the social media fame and attention isn’t really in her favor, as it’s not what she really wants.
Gabbie returns to social media and compares herself to Britney Spears
On February 29, Gabbie made her return to social media, as she released a music video titled ‘Where Did I Go?’ on her YouTube channel.
Alongside the video, she shared several posts on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. This was followed by a series of vlogs in which she delved into her hiatus, revealing her decision to quit smoking weed and her journey of recovery from social media addiction.
Gabbie’s also back to posting weekly content on YouTube and her comment sections are now flooded with fans welcoming her return, expressing how much they’d missed her, and lauding her new music.
She also did an interview at Oxford University Union, where she opened up more about her experience of leaving social media after having been labeled “crazy” by viewers.
Gabby compared herself to Britney Spears during the Free Britney movement, saying people called her crazy and urged nurses to “take her back” and “get her treated”.
“Why am I the crazy one, when you’re watching me living my dream?” she argued.
Gabbie Hanna uploads “long overdue” apology video
On September 12, 2024, Hanna uploaded a 17-minute-long apology video to YouTube, where she gave lengthy apologies to her friends, former collaborators, networks, managers, and even her fans.
While Hanna didn’t mention anyone by name, she said the ten-year anniversary of her first YouTube video prompted her to speak out and clear the air.
During her video, Hanna continuously referenced her religion, and even broke out into an impromptu praise and worship session. She also included a five-minute prayer at the end of the video.
Hanna also claimed that she will be deleting much of her old content, saying it no longer reflects her current beliefs and “wasn’t a representation of Christ.”
Hanna was praised by commenters for the video and even other creators, although some viewers are demanding that she create another apology for Jessi Smiles, a YouTuber with whom she had a dramatic falling out in 2019-2020. Smiles herself has not commented on the situation at the time of writing.
