Thursday, March 28, 2024

Stepan, the world-famous Ukrainian cat, finds safety in France



On Wednesday, practically two weeks later, Stepan’s greater than 1 million followers breathed a collective sigh of reduction. He was protected and in France.

Stepan is the newest instance of how influencers in battle areas — even nonhuman ones — are capable of faucet into their audiences to flee hazard, and the way a group that creators normally might depend on to supply model offers or promote merchandise can remodel right into a lifeline in a single day. “When you’ve got that many followers you can use them as a network to provide aid, find shelter or even help find escape routes in a war zone,” Mohamad Taufiq Morshidi, a former fundraiser for Muslim Aid Malaysia who has labored extensively with refugees, mentioned. “Having an online network will help you survive difficult times.”

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Stepan is one among the most well-known pets in the world. He has amassed an enormous following on Instagram and TikTok for his Grumpy Cat-esque nonchalant expressions, and he’s usually posed subsequent to a big glass of wine or a cocktail. Stepan’s solo, at-home events have entertained hundreds of thousands, together with many movie star followers. Stars like Britney Spears, Diane Kruger and Hailey Bieber have shared Stepan’s pictures and movies. In November, he appeared in an advert for Valentino.

But then Kharkiv, a metropolis in northeastern Ukraine, got here below assault, and Russia bombed the metropolis’s Freedom Square and opera home. Stepan’s proprietor, identified to followers as Anna, misplaced electrical energy, they usually took shelter in a basement. Stepan’s account went darkish and followers feared the worst. Many left determined, frantic feedback and even launched a hunt for the cat in his native metropolis to no avail.

“I started checking the account every single day to make sure they were okay,” Kalina Newman, 24, a graduate pupil in Washington, mentioned. “It’s a testament to how powerful these Internet figures can be.”

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By the time Stepan was tucked away on a practice to the border of Poland with Anna and her two sons earlier this week, he had a web based military prepared to help. Anna and her sons stood in line for 9 hours earlier than crossing into Poland on foot. That’s when the World Influencers and Bloggers Association stepped in.

The World Influencers and Bloggers Association was based in 2019 as a worldwide group geared toward uniting influencers round the world. The group hosts an annual awards ceremony crowning the prime content material creators throughout continents, and its members embody high-profile social media stars in Brazil, France, Ukraine, Russia, Italy, India, the United Kingdom, China and extra.

Last 12 months, the affiliation named Stepan one among the world’s prime petfluencers. So, when Maria Grazhina Chaplin, the affiliation’s CEO and founder, discovered about Stepan’s plight, she sprang into motion.

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The group helped shepherd the well-known cat and his household via Poland to a protected home in France. It rented an condo for Stepan and his household to remain in for so long as they want. “It was not so easy, on each stage we were in touch with them,” Iryna Savchak, a spokeswoman for the World Influencers and Bloggers Association, mentioned. “Now, we are personally taking care of them in France.”

There was widespread reduction and rejoicing when Stepan’s account introduced on Wednesday that he and his proprietor had been lastly protected. “My favorite cat I follow on Instagram in Kharkiv has made it to safety in France as refugee,” tweeted the writer Ben Judah. Others posted pictures celebrating the event.

When struggle breaks out, a social media star’s community overseas can turn into a vital asset. In August, Aryana Sayeed, one among Afghanistan’s prime influencers (she has extra followers on-line than the nation’s former president), was capable of escape to Istanbul after the Taliban took over Kabul. Earlier this month, a Ukrainian Twitch streamer often called @bobuubi and his household had been guided via the struggle zone by the devoted group he had cultivated on the streaming platform. “They tracked the family’s location day and night and fed them lifesaving information,” WNYC reported.

Jamie Cohen, assistant professor of media research at CUNY Queens College, mentioned the distinctive bond followers really feel with their favourite creators primes them to come back to their help in instances of want. “A fan does not want to see their favorite influencer die or get hurt,” he mentioned. “And by participating in helping secure the safety of the influencer you feel partially responsible for their success going forward.”

Currently, the World Influencers and Bloggers Association isn’t engaged on extracting different influencers from Ukraine, however Savchak mentioned it might attempt to assist any stranded Ukrainian creators who attain out. “We will do our best because we are also Ukrainian,” Savchak mentioned. “Our association is engaging a lot of people who are influencers and opinion leaders.”

Stepan’s proprietor was capable of journey with him in a provider, however numerous pets have been left behind in the struggle zone as their house owners flee the nation. Animal rescuers from Poland have been working extra time to rescue cats and canines from Ukraine, and a German group lately arrange an animal shelter at the Ukraine-Poland border to assist.

And whereas content material creators on the floor share their tales and search help from followers, influencers overseas are shaping the exterior narratives about the struggle. Last week, the Biden administration briefed prime TikTok stars on the disaster. Meanwhile, Russia is paying TikTok influencers to submit movies selling pro-Kremlin propaganda, in response to an investigation by Vice News.

The World Influencers and Bloggers Association has additionally targeted on mobilizing its community of creators to advertise messaging. It is encouraging prime content material creators to make use of their voices and communicate out towards Russia’s aggression. “Influencers are the new media,” Chaplin mentioned. “We have to emphasize that in the 21st century, the world can’t turn a blind eye to the insane actions of villains and violent dictators making other humans endure suffering, devastation and death. We call on Influencers and all our members to support an initiative to address the needs of those affected by the Russian military attack in the very heart of Europe.”

Stepan is adjusting to his new life in France. Anna mentioned the whole household is “shocked and very much stressed” and traumatized by what they’ve been via. The feedback and messages assist. By Wednesday evening, greater than 14,400 individuals had left messages of affection and assist on Stepan’s newest Instagram submit.

“So glad to hear that you’re safe now,” one follower commented. “… We’re with you!”





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