INTRODUCTION
In mid-July 2021, Victorian photographer Carly Soderstrom, also known as Carlz J Soda, posted an emotional video protesting the impact of the fifth Victorian COVID-19 lockdown on small businesses. In the video, she expressed her frustration and despair over the financial hardships caused by the lockdowns, stating that businesses had "nothing left" and were being pushed into bankruptcy.
The video quickly went viral, leading to an interview on Channel Nine's Today Show, where Soderstrom further discussed the challenges faced by small business owners during the pandemic.
Moved by her story, a stranger initiated a GoFundMe campaign titled "Carlzjsoda relief fund," which raised over $60,000 in less than a week. Soderstrom initially announced plans to share the funds with other sole traders in turmoil.
However, investigations revealed that Soderstrom's previous business venture, an activewear company named 21.15.Nine, had gone into liquidation before the pandemic, accumulating over $400,000 in debt. Unsecured creditors, including the Australian Taxation Office, were owed significant amounts. The liquidator suspected the company had been trading while insolvent, but this couldn't be confirmed without access to the financial records.
insideimaging.com.au
Further scrutiny uncovered that Soderstrom had used part of the GoFundMe donations to repay a $10,000 personal debt to a former friend. This revelation led to public outcry and allegations of misappropriation of funds. Soderstrom responded by stating she no longer wanted responsibility for the donated money and intended to return it to the campaign's organizer.
The controversy highlighted concerns about the legitimacy of crowdfunding campaigns and the importance of transparency in financial dealings, especially when public donations are involved.
VIDEOS
While Carly has removed her original IG video, a copy can be found in this online article by news.com.au
16th July 2021 Strangers set up GoFundMe for Victorian ‘broken’ by lockdown
2 days later, Today, a morning news and entertainment program on Channel 9 Australia, then picked up Carlys story.
Today Original Segment 18th July 2021 (URL : https://youtu.be/NvVUEeGwXLY?si=i5cGKaStAD0GcNYk)
Caption: When Victoria’s fifth lockdown was announced small business owner Carly Soderstrom took to social media to express her anger and advocate for the masses doing it tough in lockdown.
Less than 1 week later this video from Josh Reid Jones explaining why Carlz is not (and was not) an appropriate advocate for small business people.
Josh Reid Jones Youtube Vid 22nd July 2021 (URL: https://youtu.be/kLmkQezU2gQ?si=vKccctYYAfhZah4c)
Caption on video “ This PSA is longer than a reel, because there is more to get through, but in response to the viral outpouring of support and sharing of a particular video - and the subsequent taking advantage of the good will and kind hearts of Australians, I felt compelled to discuss some facts surrounding someone claiming to be a small business advocate.
There is absolutely a need for high quality advocacy and support for businesses and individuals who are under significant financial and emotional strain during these challenging times - but I do want people to reflect on whether someone who has left substantial unmet obligations (~$400,000) to other businesses or individuals is the right person to be advocating on behalf of the economic challenges facing small business owners.
This information is all publicly available - although I am aware that most people would not be aware of it - and I hope that examples of people taking advantage of the good will of Australians does not diminish the appetite for Aussies to continue to support one another and those in need, especially during these universally difficult days.”
And this one from Tom Tanuki
Tom Tanuki Youtube Video 22nd July 2021 (URL: https://youtu.be/ZwN-4Qsc_LM?si=vnA1DlWUmFjd60rU)
Caption: There's some really important stuff in Carlz J Soda's popular recent video, and some really shit stuff too. I'm looking at that, and at lockdowns, government assistance and who can pay for it.
On July 23rd, A Current Affair did a follow up on Carly.
A Current Affair Episode 23rd July 2021 (URL: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1791725827694261)
Caption: Carly Soderstrom's in a spot of bother. During Victoria's COVID lockdown she went viral on TV and social media as a struggling small business owner. In the process, a GoFundMe page was set-up for her raising thousands of dollars. Tonight there are serious questions being raised about Carly and the cash
FURTHER MEDIA
(click on bold headline to go to article)
Before her viral video in July 2021, Carly appeared in this article, in The Age, on June 5th 2021
Small business owners being ‘destroyed’ during lockdown
"Regional Victorian photographer Carly Soderstrom said she had to turn down a $7000 opportunity at Australian Fashion Week because of the latest lockdown. She’s now got just $400 in her bank account.
"Lockdown didn’t just meant lost income, I lost the opportunity to have my work seen by people who might hire me, you just lose momentum,” Ms Soderstrom said on Saturday. "People tell me it’s just seven or 14 days of lockdown, but there’s no guarantee that income will still be here for me after it’s over. It’s been 15 months of this, and the dark cloud of anxiety is brutalising and punishing.”
July 25th 2021 Viral business owner defiant about debts, says ‘liquidation’ helps people ‘rebuild’
July 27th 2021 Photographer who pocketed $61,000 from GoFundMe after complaining about lockdown hits out at the Good Samaritan who started the fundraiser - after it emerged she went bust before Covid
Controversial businesswoman used GoFundMe donations to pay back loan
EXCLUSIVE: How photographer who pocketed $61,000 from strangers on GoFundMe after an emotional plea on national television about lockdown destroying her business is revealed to have gone broke BEFORE Covid-19 hit - and she owes creditors $400,000
I WAS RIGHT
A recurring theme in Carlz’s narrative is her insistence that she was “right” about COVID and that she was unfairly demonized for her stance. However, what she fails to acknowledge is that the backlash wasn’t about her views on the pandemic—it stemmed from the hypocrisy of her viral video. While she positioned herself as an advocate for struggling small businesses, her own company’s liquidation history revealed that she had, in fact, taken advantage of small businesses. It was this contradiction, rather than her COVID stance, that led to her "fall from grace.
11th March 2025 - she misrepresented the findings of a report by the Australia Human Rights Comission, to use it to once again, claim that "she was right"
*note : the screen shot of a newspaper article below is from the Herald Sun, a tabloid known for its click baity headlines. The headline does not match the findings of the report.
- The report does criticize elements of Australia's COVID-19 response, including lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and lack of exemptions for compassionate cases.
- However, it does not outright condemn Victoria alone or suggest that restrictions were wholly unjustified.
- A more accurate headline would be:
"Human Rights Report Critiques Australia's COVID-19 Response, Calls for More Balanced Future Policies"
CRIME FIGHTER CARLZ
