Geordie Shore favourite Scott Timlin, known as Scotty T, is facing a legal battle just as he was set to make a grand return in the show’s 25th season. Timlin, along with several other reality TV stars, has become embroiled in a controversy over misleading social media posts.
Next month, Scotty T is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court alongside fellow reality personalities Rebecca Gormley, Eva Zapico, Biggs Chris, and Jamie Clayton from Love Island, as well as Lauren Goodger and Yazmin Oukhellou from The Only Way is Essex. These stars are being charged by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for promoting unauthorised investments on social media.
The FCA claims that ‘finfluencers’ Emmanuel Nwanze and Holly Thompson operated an Instagram account, @holly_fxtrends, offering advice on buying and selling contracts for difference (CFDs) without proper authorisation. The FCA has found that Nwanze paid these influencers, including Scotty T, to promote the account to their combined 4.5 million Instagram followers.
If convicted, the influencers could face up to two years in prison, casting doubt on Scotty’s anticipated comeback to Geordie Shore. The FCA’s allegations have put a spotlight on the responsibilities and ethical standards of social media influencers in financial promotions.