Influencer Issues Apology Following Incident of Leaving Baby Unattended in Hotel Room for Massage

An Australian influencer recently found herself in hot water after admitting to leaving her infant unattended in a hotel room during a vacation in Bali. The incident has sparked a wave of criticism and forced the influencer, Taleigha Skye, to issue an apology to her followers.

The controversy began when Taleigha, who hails from Perth, left her six-month-old son alone in their locked hotel room to enjoy a foot massage. This decision quickly ignited backlash online, with many drawing comparisons to the tragic case of Madeleine McCann, a three-year-old who disappeared under similar circumstances during a family vacation in Portugal in 2007.

Adding fuel to the fire, Taleigha had shared a now-deleted TikTok video in which she demonstrated how she monitored her child remotely while she attended her appointment. The video showed her holding a monitoring device as she left the hotel premises. Despite her attempt to reassure viewers, the post was met with harsh criticism.

The incident gained further notoriety after being shared on the Facebook page TeaTime, where it attracted numerous comments condemning her actions. Many social media users expressed outrage and concern, highlighting the dangers of leaving a child unattended, even momentarily. As the online backlash intensified, Taleigha was compelled to address the situation and apologise publicly.

The content creator was quickly slammed online for her post after it was shared to the Facebook page TeaTime, with several drawing parallels to the headline-making mystery surrounding the McCann child.

Madeleine McCann vanished from an apartment in Portugal’s Praia da Luz while her parents dined at a nearby tapas bar. 

Australian influencer Taleigha Skye (pictured) has been forced to apologise to followers after leaving her child alone in a locked hotel room while holidaying in Bali

‘Is this normal practice? This mum is in Bali with her two young kids, and has left the baby (under one) alone in the resort room,’ shared one user on the Facebook page.

‘She’s left the room and walked away to have a 30-minute foot massage done? 

‘It seemed she walked some distance too… it looks like she’s staying in a resort or similar.

‘If this is normal practice, how do you not have a literal panic attack at doing this?’ 

‘It’s giving Madeleine McCann. [Her] parents allegedly left her alone in the resort room,’ commented one user on the thread.

‘Did we not learn from Madeleine McCann?’ another person wrote. 

A third agreed: ‘In this day and age, after Madeleine McCann, why would any parent do this? I’m shook.’

‘My instant thoughts, I could never [do this] in Australia, let alone a foreign country,’ replied another TeaTime user.

In a now-deleted TikTok clip, Taleigha was shown holding a video monitoring device, so she could keep an eye on her son as she walked from her accommodation to her appointment 

Critics have likened the situation to the disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann (pictured) during a family vacation in Portugal in 2007 

‘I love her, but this is not it,’ said a fan of Taleigha, who has acquired a dedicated following for her motherhood and lifestyle posts.

Elsewhere, Taleigha revealed that her husband and eldest boy were out quad-bike riding during her time away from the room.

In response to the onslaught of negative comments, Taleigha posted a statement to her Instagram Stories addressing the controversy.

‘I want to address what’s been circulating online,’ she began.

‘I made a poor decision, and I take full responsibility for it.

‘Although I was only metres away from the locked resort room and had constant monitoring, I recognise that this did not make the situation safe.

‘We do have a lovely nanny here in Bali who was unavailable that day. This is not a justification, just context.

‘I understand the seriousness of my actions, and I can confidently say this is the first and last time it will ever happen.’

The mother of two often shares videos as part of the ‘boy mum’ trend featuring her two young sons, including the elder child, who is four. 

She welcomed her second son, who she also shares with her partner, Ash, in October.