After winning “Best Content Creator” at the internationally recognized Septimius Awards in Amsterdam, Nicole Arbour has decided to decline the award upon discovering concerns about the show’s producer’s previous projects. The 2024 Septimius Awards, held on August 20, recognized notable talent such as Cuba Gooding Jr., with clips of Arbour’s music video “This Is It” shown during the event. However, upon learning about the founder’s involvement in a controversial film titled "Are All Men Pedophiles?," Arbour chose to reject the award in order to stand against child exploitation.
Arbour, known for her viral comedy, music, and social media presence, has supported organizations fighting against human trafficking, including Operation Lightshine and Sentinel Foundation. Her decision to decline the Septimius Award reflects her commitment to opposing exploitation and promoting the welfare of children.
Arbour conducted research on the film background of the Septimius Awards’ founder, Jan-Willem Breure, and found that Breure was involved in the creation of a documentary that Arbour found concerning. This led to her decision to not accept the award.
In her podcast, “The Arbour Affect,” Arbour addressed her audience of 5 million followers on her decision and encouraged others to consider the ethical implications when engaging with organizations and events. Arbour’s refusal has gone viral with over 1 million downloads and views of this episode in less than 24 hours.
Arbour’s refusal has garnered attention from her audience of 5 million followers, many of whom have expressed support for her decision. Jan-Willem Breure, the founder and director of the Septimius Awards, has not yet responded to Arbour’s decision, but he did direct a re-filming of the award presentation in her category, giving her trophy to Indian sketch comedy group Sevengers.
Licensed mental health counselor J.C. Schildbach, MA, LMHC, ASOTP, has commented on the concerns surrounding the film’s content, noting the importance of addressing sensitive issues responsibly.
Arbour hopes her decision will encourage others to consider the values of organizations and events they support. She also invites those interested in combating child exploitation to donate to: https://foundationsentinel.kindful.com/campaigns/1184598
Link to “The Arbour Affect” podcast episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6bzt2fzQTyci0CZWsk9wBE?si=53db6557fab244df
About Arbour Entertainment
Arbour Entertainment is an agency for digital disrupters, affiliated with comedian and recording artist, Nicole Arbour. Known for her debate starting unapologetic comedic takes, Arbour has generated over 1.5 billion video views, received an honorary star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for "Special Achievement in Social Media," and was named the "#1 Influencer to Follow in 2020" by Yahoo. For more information, visit https://arbourentertainment.com.
Media Contact
Kay Tam
+1 323-397-9200
About Arbour Entertainment
Arbour Entertainment is an agency for digital disrupters, affiliated with comedian and recording artist, Nicole Arbour. Known for her debate starting unapologetic comedic takes, Arbour has generated over 1.5 billion video views, received an honorary star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for "Special Achievement in Social Media," and was named the "#1 Influencer to Follow in 2020" by Yahoo. For more information, visit https://arbourentertainment.com.
Media Contact
Kay Tam
+1 323-397-9200
