Ugandan celebrities Judith Heard and Crysto Panda have sparked a national conversation about the growing trend of begging on TikTok, with both public figures expressing frustration over how the platform has evolved from entertainment to exploitation. On May 1, 2025, model and socialite Judith Heard took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize what she described as Uganda’s TikTok becoming “a digital street corner” where “every scroll feels like someone is begging.”
Heard’s critique highlighted a concerning shift in TikTok’s purpose in Uganda, stating that the platform is “no longer about content, it’s about survival.” She further emphasized the “alarming rise of blackmail and manipulation” where users “abuse, attack, and fabricate stories targeting those with influence, just to get paid.” Her comments reflect growing frustration among content creators and audiences about the platform’s deteriorating quality.
Musician and TV personality Crysto Panda quickly echoed Heard’s sentiments in a video that was shared by NRG Radio Uganda on May 2, 2025. In the clip, Panda questioned why able-bodied individuals resort to online begging: “Why do people who have both hands and legs beg? I hate seeing able-bodied people beg. Go and hustle and get money.” His comments, captured in the phrase “Why beg on TikTok when you’ve got hands that can hustle?” directly challenge the growing culture of dependency on digital handouts.
The celebrities’ concerns come amid broader issues with TikTok in Uganda, where the platform has faced scrutiny for various problematic uses. In April 2025, Uganda’s Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, announced plans to introduce new regulations for social media platforms, including content filtering technologies. While the government has resisted calls to ban TikTok outright (as requested by religious leaders like Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje), it is moving toward stricter oversight of online content, potentially affecting the very begging culture that Heard and Panda have criticized.