I won't put my relationships online again, says Lilly Sabri

Lilly Sabri, a prominent fitness influencer with a massive following of six million on YouTube, has recently made headlines with her decision to step back from sharing her personal life on social media. She emphasizes the importance of being cautious about what one shares online, stating, 'Be mindful about what you're sharing, because once it's online, it's online forever. ' After a long hiatus, Lilly is preparing to return to Instagram, but this time with a different approach. Two years ago, Lilly was living her dream, successfully managing two businesses that flourished during the Covid lockdowns. However, her life took a dramatic turn in 2023 when a popular gossip podcast aired a story about a man who allegedly cheated on his famous fiancée. The clues in the podcast led many to believe that the man in question was Lilly's then-partner. The next morning, Lilly woke up to an overwhelming number of notifications on her phone, as people speculated about the truth behind the rumors. It was a challenging moment for her, as she witnessed her life unraveling in real time. The creators of the podcast, which the BBC has chosen not to name, have stated that they are not responsible for the consequences of their content. Until now, Lilly had kept silent about the incident, but she recently opened up about the moment that changed her life. Following the podcast's release, Lilly's social media feeds were flooded with what she described as 'investigator-style' videos that speculated about her life and how she would respond to the situation. In response to the chaos, Lilly made the decision to delete the Instagram app from her phone. She explained, 'I just had to get away from social media. ' The pressure to provide answers and share more of her life became overwhelming, especially when she had requested privacy. Lilly realized that the only thing she could control was her own reaction, which meant withdrawing from the public eye to protect herself and her family. The end of Lilly's relationship was complicated, as her ex-partner was also her business partner. This left her in a difficult position, needing to find the funds to buy him out of their joint business. Lilly moved back to the UK to be with her family after leaving Dubai, where she had been living with her partner. She also had to make the tough decision to lay off most of her staff. Reflecting on this period, Lilly described it as 'very humbling and very difficult. ' She found herself returning to the tasks she had previously delegated to others, such as editing videos and managing social media accounts. Despite her efforts to avoid social media, Lilly had to engage with it to keep her businesses afloat, all while trying to shield herself from the personal comments that flooded in. She shared, 'I was trying to manage the heartbreak and the shock combined with keeping the business afloat. ' Her last Instagram post was in November 2023, and many followers were curious about her absence. Before the gossip podcast, Lilly had been quite open about her life online. She acknowledged that had she shared less, there might have been less interest in her relationship. 'I truly don't know the answer to that,' she admitted. Lilly recognized that sharing snippets of her life helped build her brand and attract followers, but it also came with an unspoken pressure to reveal more. She stated, 'I've learned people will constantly want more the more you give. ' This cycle of sharing led to increased exposure, as followers would demand to see more aspects of her life. Now, nearly eighteen months after her last post, Lilly finds herself in a different mindset. Her business, which includes workout videos and a nutrition app, is thriving, and she feels ready to return to her personal Instagram account. However, she is determined to set new boundaries this time. 'I'm not going to be showing my personal relationships, I've been too scarred, and I can't do it again,' she declared, signaling a new chapter in her life and career.