PICTURE: INSTAGRAM/ rhode
Imagine this: you’ve been dreaming about a skincare brand that’s the talk of the beauty world, a brand so exclusive it’s never even touched South African soil.
Then one day, as if by magic, it appears – a pop-up shop glowing like a mirage at the Mall of Africa.
No splashy ads, no social media buzz, just the sleek allure of rhode, Hailey Bieber’s coveted skincare line.
For fans, it seemed too good to be true… and unfortunately, it was. At first, it felt like Christmas morning. Shoppers couldn’t wait to snag the products they’d only seen online. But the excitement turned sour.
The warning signs were subtle at first: unusual packaging colours and questionable spelling errors on the labels.
Could it be the renowned brand, or was something fishy going on?
Social media detectives sprang into action, with TikTok lighting up like a crime scene investigation.
One savvy user went straight to the source, rhode’s official team and the response was a shocker: “Thanks for reaching out. We can confirm that Rhode is not connected or affiliated with this shop in any way.” Cue the collective gasp.
@michal_naidoo Rhode Mall Of Africa Saga #rhodegate #rhosesaga #mallofafrica #mallofafricascam #rhodescam #rhodesouthafrica#greenscreen ♬ original sound – Mi’chal Naidoo
Confusion turned to outrage as buyers, some out thousands of rands, began to suspect they’d been duped.
Amid the chaos, Mall of Africa stepped in with a statement: “Mall of Africa takes any concerns around product integrity seriously and continues to provide a trusted shopping experience of the highest standards. Exercising care, Mall of Africa has made a decision to close the Beutessa pop-up at SOOK Mall of Africa.”
They further assured shoppers: “Mall of Africa apologises for any inconvenience caused and remains committed to transparency and providing a positive shopping experience for all.”
And just like that, the shop vanished as quickly as it appeared.
@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 ♬ original sound – Danè
It left behind an empty space, lots of questions, and a hard lesson learned.
The dream of rhode products on local shelves lives on, but until then, South Africans will be extra cautious the next time an “exclusive” pop-up comes their way. Let’s hope the real deal lands on our shores soon!
Words: Fame Frenzy
