Erika Thompson (born 1986) is an American beekeeper with more than 11 million followers on TikTok. She posts videos of herself handling bees with her bare hands and wearing no protective gear. She lives in Elgin, Texas, and keeps almost 50 beehives in her backyard.
Erika Thompson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1986 (age 37–38) Katy, Texas, US |
| Education | University of Texas at Austin |
| Occupation | Beekeeper |
TikTok information | |
| Page | |
| Followers | 11.5 million |
| Likes | 169.2 million |
Last updated: April 10, 2023 | |
Early life
editThompson was born in 1986 and grew up in Katy, Texas, United States.[1][2] She attended the University of Texas at Austin. After college, Thompson worked as a communications director for a nonprofit. She lived in the Austin area until 2019.[2]
Career
editThompson worked for the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association and the Austin chapter of the American Institute of Architects and her hobby was beekeeping.[2] In 2016, she founded Texas Beeworks in the Austin, Texas, metropolitan area.[1][3] She has stated that her mission is to put "hives before honey". She also says that the mission of her company, Texas Beeworks, is to promote public awareness about bees and beekeepers. Her organization removes bees for free.[3]
In 2018, the television quiz show Jeopardy! recorded video clues about bees for an episode of the show. The videos featured Thompson's organization Texas Beeworks. The show aired on Memorial Day in 2019, and by that time Thompson had already left her job to become a full-time beekeeper.[2]
Thompson typically posts videos of herself relocating beehives; she scoops up handfuls of bees with her bare hands and wears no beekeeping equipment while handling the bees. By 2021, she had amassed 6 million followers on TikTok.[4] By 2023, she had 11.4 million following her account which she named Texas Beeworks.[5][1] One of her TikTok videos quickly amassed 60 million views.[6] She finishes each of her TikTok videos by saying "It was another great day of saving the bees".[7]
Controversy
editIn 2021 some TikTok followers questioned whether the videos of her handling bees using no protective equipment were fake. There were questions about whether or not she had sedated the bees. She was also accused of staging bee rescues. Thompson responded on Instagram by saying it was a "series of untrue and hurtful attacks".[7][8] In 2021 CNN interviewed another professional beekeeper who stated that Thompson's videos set a "dangerous precedent" on how people should interact with bees safely. To respond to the controversy Thompson released a statement to the cable news network.[9]
As a professional beekeeper, it's my mission and my purpose to help people understand how important the work of bees and beekeepers is to our world. The content I share is real, and shows how beekeepers help people and bees in need every day—wearing protective gear when necessary. Only experienced beekeepers should be handling bees and performing bee removal services.
Personal life
editThompson lives in Smithville, Texas. She has an apiary with two rows of boxes at her home.[10] Her backyard has approximately 50 beehives.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b c Cristiano, Brittany (August 19, 2022). "This Texas Beekeeper Has 11.2M Followers On TikTok & She's The Real Queen Bee". Narcity Media Inc. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Sayers, Justin (September 15, 2021). "Journal Profile: Erika Thompson of Texas Beeworks escapes TikTok fame at Elgin home". Austin Business Journal. American City Business Journals. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ a b "Texas Beeworks". Texas Beeworks. Archived from the original on December 24, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ Andrade, Sofia (June 4, 2021). "What Beekeepers Really Think of the Viral TikTok Bee Lady". The Slate Group LLC. Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ "Texasbeeworks". TikTok. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ a b Andrews, Travis M. (March 18, 2021). "TikTok's viral beekeeper is getting a lot of ... buzz". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ a b Haylock, Zoe (June 7, 2021). "TikTok Is Buzzzzing With Sweet, Sweet Bee Drama". VOX MEDIA, LLC. Vulture. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ Hill, Clara (June 4, 2021). "Viral TikTok beekeeper sparks outrage over lack of safety equipment". The Independent. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ Asmelash, Leah (June 7, 2021). "TikTok is abuzz after beekeeping influencer is accused of not practicing correct safety protocols". CNN. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ Larson, Lauren (September 18, 2020). "How Texas Beeworks's Erika Thompson Became the Queen Bee of Pastoral TikTok". Texas Monthly. Archived from the original on January 20, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
External links
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