Excitement turned to disappointment for many when a Rhode Skin by Hailey Bieber pop-up at Mall of Africa sparked both enthusiasm and skepticism on social media. Initially, netizens rushed to buy the brand’s skincare products, thrilled that Rhode Skin had made its way to South Africa.
However, concerns quickly emerged when TikTok content creators pointed out that Rhode Skin wasn’t officially available in the country. The brand’s official social media accounts had made no mention of any pop-up store, raising questions about the authenticity of the event.
As the buzz grew, many content creators expressed doubts over the pop-up’s legitimacy, noting suspicious signs such as misspelled product labels. Some even claimed that Rhode Skin products had been discontinued, further fueling skepticism. TikTok user @noya.noy, whose video showcasing the pop-up went viral with 1.5 million views and 86,000 likes, was one of the first to share the excitement.
@noya.noy Pop Up of Rhode products in Mall of Africa Jhb 👀🥰 #fyp #foryou #rhode #sa #jhb #mallofafrica #foryoupage
Within hours, it became clear that the pop-up was a counterfeit operation, selling fake products. The situation took a more bizarre turn the following day when a content creator, @ms.prinsloo, returned to the pop-up to find that the store had vanished completely. In a TikTok post, she lamented, “In less than 24 hours of me buying from them, why can’t we have nice things in South Africa?”
@ms.prinsloo In less than 24 hours of me buying from them 😭 why can’t we have nice things in South Africa 🥲 #mallofafrica #southafrica #rhode #scammed
The discovery led to a flood of reactions on social media. One user, @dash.l.v.d.p, sarcastically remarked, “Your first mistake was when you made a choice to buy a Rhode product.” Others, like @iiam_.reaa, called it “such a clean scam,” while @nicole.curlygirl pointed out that brands like Fenty made sure to announce their South African presence, unlike Rhode Skin.
In response, Mall of Africa issued a statement on their Instagram story confirming the closure of the pop-up. The mall emphasized that it takes concerns about product authenticity seriously and apologized for any inconvenience caused. “Mall of Africa has made the decision to close the Beutessa pop-up at SOOK Mall of Africa,” the statement read. “We remain committed to transparency and providing a positive shopping experience for all.”
Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram
For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com