TIKTOK has become a melting pot for creatives to come together and share their work.
Content creator, Gracie Norton, however, was faced with backlash for her Spa Water video series.
What is spa water on TikTok?
TikTok’s viral spa water originated from user, Gracie Norton.
She posted a video on the platform putting together a drink she named ‘spa water’ and claimed that the recipe was her own.
Little did she know that her creation is actually a traditional soft Latin beverage known as, Agua Fresca – which means ‘cool water’ in Spanish.
Agua Fresca is a light non-alcoholic, fruity drink popular throughout Mexico.
The beverage is made from fruit, water, and sugar with ice added to the mix to make it refreshingly cool.
What is the controversy surrounding TikTok’s spa water?
Norton’s video received immense backlash on TikTok after it was revealed that her ‘spa water’ drink was actually a popular Mexican beverage.
The influencer claimed that the drink was her own personal recipe, but in fact, it was a replica.
As a result, the internet flooded Norton’s video with comments directed at her apparent ignorance and misappropriation when it came to naming the drink.
Her TikTok account has since been banned and she issued an apology to those she “offended.”
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“Recently I filmed a spa water series, which I titled incorrectly. The proper name for this drink is Agua Fresca, and the origin belongs to the Latin community,” she wrote in a statement.
“Many of you have let me know that you would feel most comfortable if the videos were completely removed, so that is what I have done.
“A majority of my content is about celebrating the many ways we can show our bodies love through trying new recipes, and I am aware that it is my responsibility to continue to educate myself on the origin of those recipes.
“I sincerely apologize to the Latin community and those of you that I have offended.”
The Sun reached out to Norton for comment but has yet to
Who is Gracie Norton?
Gracie Norton is a 24-year-old social media influencer currently living in Indiana.
According to her website, she moved to Los Angeles after college and used to work as a creative director for YouTube creators and a brand manager for startups.
She describes the goal for her blog to be “a place where I can create a community full of people that enjoy connecting on all things health, beauty, fashion and the simple joys in everyday life.”
Before her TikTok, @gracie_norton, was taken down, it consisted of 549.3K fans and 5.8M likes.
However, she still has over 80k followers on Instagram.