'The Age of Influence' on Hulu spotlights dark side of social media, influencer Jay Mazini

Hannan Adely, NorthJersey.com
·3 min read

A new documentary series on Hulu about “the dark side of influencer culture” will delve into the stories of six social media influencers behind notorious schemes, including New Jersey Instagram star Jay Mazini.

“The Age of Influence” will air on Hulu on June 5 in six episodes, with the second episode focused on Mazini, who is currently serving jail time for kidnapping as he awaits sentencing on federal fraud charges.

The series is produced by Part2 Pictures for ABC News Studios.

“From sweeping cons to viral cancellation campaigns, each episode of the six-part series gives an unfiltered look at an infamous influencer saga,” ABC News Studios writes in a description of the series. “Viewers will watch the drama unfold as these tastemakers become caught in the controversial crosshairs of their own curated online worlds.”

Jay Mazini
Jay Mazini

Mazini, of Edgewater, was the subject of a news series by The Record and the USA TODAY Network last year detailing how the young entrepreneur rose to fame posting Instagram videos of himself handing out cash to strangers alongside rap stars including 50 Cent and Fabolous. Mazini, whose real name is Jebara Igbara, also posted videos doling out spiritual and financial advice.

His online influencer persona crumbled amid allegations of fraud and theft and his involvement in a brutal kidnapping. Customers said they didn’t get products or services they bought, and investors claimed he stole millions.

The influencer: Influencer Jay Mazini found fame on social media. Did he use that fame to swindle millions?

Among his schemes, Mazini swindled millions from Muslim New Yorkers through an investment firm he called Halal Capital, which promised to conduct “halal” business, meaning permissible in Islamic teaching. Federal investigators said he used the money to enrich himself and accused him of running a Ponzi scheme.

Social media scandal: 9 takeaways from our series on Instagram influencer Jay Mazini

Mazini also offered to buy bitcoin from online followers at a price that was higher than market value. He provided fake evidence of wire transfers instead of actual payment, he later admitted in court.

"The Age of Influence" docuseries focuses on the "dark side of influencer culture." It will air June 5, 2023 on Hulu.
"The Age of Influence" docuseries focuses on the "dark side of influencer culture." It will air June 5, 2023 on Hulu.

On Nov. 2, he pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn to charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

“The Age of Influence” fuses investigative journalism with true crime, pop culture and social media, according to ABC News Studios. The additional episodes focus on the following influencers:

  • Danielle Miller, known as “Swiffer Girl,” who becomes an influencer “as she uses social media to con her way into fame and fortune, encountering notorious Soho-grifter-turned-Rikers-roomie Anna Delvey along the way.”

  • Emily Gellis, a fashion influencer who “ignites a viral Instagram campaign against Tanya Zuckerbrot and her trendy F-Factor diet, potentially setting the stage for what can and can’t be said on social media”

  • Bodybuilder Tyler Bauman, “who goes from rags to riches as ‘musclehead320’ using Instagram to build his own counterfeit steroid empire”

  • “Momfluencer” Machelle Hobson, who builds a massive YouTube show around her adopted children, hiding a nefarious reality behind the scenes.

  • Tracii Hutsona, a wannabe influencer, actress and reality star “who wreaks havoc" on the life of the ex-wife of former basketball player Jason Kidd.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 'The Age of Influence' on Hulu spotlights influencer Jay Mazini