'Introvert' influencer says she bought all tickets at a cinema hall. Then, a clarification

Eriyca Baiduri, popularly known as Madammu, is an influencer and entrepreneur. (Image: @madammmu/Instagram)

A Malaysian influencer recently posted a video on social media showcasing an empty cinema, claiming to have purchased tickets for all seats to create a private movie experience. The video, posted on 3 January, quickly sparked a debate on the internet about the boundaries of extravagance and privacy.

Despite the controversy, Eriyca Baiduri, popularly known as Madammu, in an interview with Malaysian news outlet mStar, clarified that the video was made in jest.

Baiduri's TikTok video, which gained significant traction, depicts her enjoying a solo movie experience in an empty cinema hall, munching on popcorn while waiting for the film to begin. The caption accompanying the video, “We are the introverted type! So we bought all the seats.”

Addressing the controversy in the interview with mStar, Baiduri debunked claims of excessiveness, asserting that the video was created in jest. She explained, "I made the video caption in jest... Suddenly, it became viral, so I left it at that. Netizens can say whatever they want like I’m just showing off or I’m being pretentious and claiming to be an introvert, I’ll still forgive them."

Baiduri further revealed that she found amusement in the online debates, stating, "It was quite fun watching netizens fight in the comments section. That’s why I let things be. They’re actually quite funny."

With thousands of views and hundreds of comments, the influencer found support in many who said they would have done the same while some said it was excessive and a “waste of money” or just “showing off”.
“If I could afford it, I would do this too. I would not hear the sound of children making noise when they are unattended to by their parents or people chatting,” one supporter said.

The influencer's actions have raised questions about the cost involved, with each ticket averaging between RM11 (approximately Rs 200) and RM35 (Rs 625). The total expenditure for buying out an entire cinema could range from RM1,760 (Rs 31,300) to RM5,600 (over Rs 1 lakh), as reported by The Strait Times.