Influencer Emma Orhun Faces Online Backlash After Promoting Anthropic's Claude

Emma Orhun, an Ottawa-based social media creator and ex-Shopify design technologist, reported being "micro-canceled" after she posted a paid promotion for Anthropic’s Claude AI, prompting a flood of hostile comments that left her feeling isolated. She recounted the experience on a podcast, describing how the backlash echoed reactions to an OpenAI-hosted retreat in upstate New York where influencers posted images of honey jars and AI workshops, which also attracted angry remarks.

Critics in her comment sections labeled AI as "bad for the earth" and threatened to unfollow her, causing Orhun to doubt herself, though she ultimately stood by her decision. On the podcast she argued that female creators often bear a heavier moral burden than male peers when endorsing AI, though she later qualified that claim after receiving criticism. Orhun draws a personal line between using AI for technical problem-solving and avoiding it for generating artwork, emphasizing her daily commitment to hand-drawn art.

She warned that the hostility may push users into an "AI closet," discouraging open discussion about AI usage. The incident underscores a broader cultural pushback against influencers promoting artificial-intelligence products.