“Oli London” is the stage name of Oliver Squire, a British media figure and ex-transgender activist. Squire has been described as a “clout-chaser” and attention-seeking troll.
Squire became known for numerous surgeries to alter ethnic and gender traits to look like K-pop stars Jimin of BTS and later Rosé of Blackpink. Squire has identified as transracial and transgender.
In 2022 Squire pivoted to getting money and attention by attacking the trans community and other minorities in conservative media outlets.
Background
Squire was reportedly born on January 14, 1990 and grew up in England.
According to Squire’s deleted LinkedIn account, Squire attended Ludlow College from 2006 to 2008, then earned a diploma from The University of Reading in 2010. That year, Squire and Victoria Martin led a successful campaign to stop sales of foie gras at some local businesses.
In 2010, Squire was involved in exchange program Camp America, and in 2011 Squire was a teaching assistant at Ludlow Junior School. In 2011 Squire was a volunteer in Ethiopia for VSO [Voluntary Service Overseas].
In 2012 and 2013, Squire reportedly moved to South Korea to teach English via Teach and Learn in Korea. While there, Squire became obsessed with K-pop group BTS, particularly BTS member Jimin. That year, Squire began have plastic surgery to look like Jimin. According to the New York Post, Squire began getting surgeries at age 22 that ultimately “cost him more than $200,000 and took him as far afield as Armenia when UK doctors refused his requests for endless operations.”
Squire later claimed a transracial identity as South Korean, which led to significant negative attention from the media.
In 2013, Squire was manager at Baker’s of Tower Street in Ludlow. Later that year, Squire took a customer loyalty host role at Harrods. In 2014, Squire began working at Selfridges, first as a sales associate before taking brand management roles at Selfridges for Tom Ford, Mulberry, and Jimmy Choo through 2017. At the time, Squire’s biography stated:
Oliver Squire, based in London, London, United Kingdom, is currently a Brand Manager- Jimmy Choo at Selfridges. Oliver Squire brings experience from previous roles at Selfridges and Harrods. Oliver Squire holds a 2008 – 2010 Diploma of Higher Education in English Literature & Applied Linguistics @ The University of Reading. With a robust skill set that includes Research, Social Networking, Brand Management, Client Relations, Sales and more.
On August 19, 2020, Squire founded Myeongseong Ltd in the UK. It was dissolved on July 19, 2022.
Television appearances
A 2018 episode of Hooked on the Look brought more attention to Squire.
In 2018. Squire appeared with friend Angelique “Frenchy” Morgan on the series Frenchy World. Morgan later exposed Squire as a fraud and clout chaser.
In 2020, Squire appeared on Dr. Phil.
In 2021, Squire appeared on Judge Rinder to sue friend Josh over half of a hotel bill incurred on a plastic surgery trip to Dubai.
In 2022, Squire appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight to announce a change in gender identity.
In 2022, Squire appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored with Helen Joyce and hosts Douglas Murray and Emily Sheffield.
Music
Squire began releasing K-pop music in 2019 to generally negative reviews.
Singles
- Perfection (2019)
- Butterfly (2019)
- Heart of Korea (2019)
- Last Christmas (2019)
- Mirror Mirror (2020)
- Lockdown City (2020)
- Troubled Bitch (2020)
- Christmas in Korea (2020) – credited as Oliver Squire
- Koreaboo (2021)
- Plastic Is Fantastic (2021)
- Puppet on a String (2021)
- Korean Boy (2022)
- Hooked on Look (2022)
- Cyber Bullies (2022)
- Filipino Christmas (2023)
Albums and EPs
- Fallen Angel (2021)
- Christmas with Oli London (2022) – EP
- K-pop Christmas (2023)
2021 death hoax
In May 2021, London began trending amid death rumors: “The internet was very confused with some trolls claiming that he was dead and others believing he attempted to pull off a suicide prank even going so far as to write a fake suicide note. Oli had gone silent on all of his social media accounts for several days, except TikTok where he posted a video on Wednesday, May 26.”
According to The Sun, Squire told Jam Press:
I woke up at 10 am this morning [27 May] and every time I wake up, the first thing I do is check my social media to see what’s going. So I went to go on Instagram and it said my account has been memorialized, that I’d died. I was really shocked and upset because I use Instagram so much, especially for my music. […] This whole thing has really affected me and I even started to question if I was dreaming or if I actually was dead.
Personal life
In June 2022, Squire reportedly married sex worker Daniel Chandler Meltham, Jr., aka “Deje Richardson” and “Danny Richardson” (born January 2003). Meltham is co-founder of UK company EnglishTwinks Ltd. Squire and Meltham reportedly divorced in early 2023.
Anti-transgender activism
In August 2022, Squire apologized for getting surgeries to look like Jimin. In November 2022, Squire claimed to have converted to Christianity, announcing the intention to be baptized in the Catholic Church.
Squire published a 2023 book originally titled Detransition: A Memoir. It was was distributed by Simon & Schuster, retitled as Gender Madness: One Man’s Devastating Struggle with Woke Ideology and His Battle to Protect Children.
Squire often attacks the trans community on conservative outlets, including Fox News, Newsmax, OAN, Talk TV, and GB News.
Squire is a member of Fairness First PAC, an organization created by Caitlyn Jenner to oppose transgender athletes in sex-segregated competitive sports.
References
Malis, Carolina (November 22 , 2024). What has Oli London been up to? The controversial Brit had multiple surgeries to look like BTS’ Jimin and declared himself transracial, transgender and bisexual – but now rails against ‘woke’ ideology. South China Morning Post https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3287698/what-has-oli-london-been-controversial-brit-had-multiple-surgeries-look-bts-jimin-and-declared
London, Oli (2023). Gender Madness: One Man’s Devastating Struggle with Woke Ideology and His Battle to Protect Children. Skyhorse Publishing, ISBN 9781510778061
Kennedy, Dana (September 8, 2023). Ex trans influencer Oli London regrets his 32 cosmetic surgeries. New York Post https://nypost.com/2023/09/08/ex-trans-influencer-oli-london-regrets-32-elective-surgeries/
Cowan, Zagria (March 8, 2023). Oli London (1990 – ) influencer, temporary trans person. A Gender Variance Who’s Who https://zagria.blogspot.com/2023/03/oli-london-1990-influencer-temporary.html
James, John (February 26, 2023). I spent £250,000 to look like a Korean woman… but I’ve gone back to being a MAN: ‘De-transitioner’s journey to the opposite gender and back again. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/uk-femail-weekend-features-project/article-11780737/I-spent-250-000-look-like-Korean-woman-Ive-gone-MAN.html
Staff report (January 16, 2023). British Influencer Oli London Files For Divorce After Just 7 Months Of Marriage. Knewz https://nordot.app/987751944099184640?c=644607769890374753 [archive]
Heipel, Edie (November 4, 2022). De-transitioner shares conversion to Christianity. Catholic News Agency https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252732/de-transitioner-oli-london-shares-conversion-to-christianity
Heipel, Edie (November 4, 2022). De-transitioner Oli London shares conversion to Christianity. Catholic News Agency https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252732/de-transitioner-oli-london-shares-conversion-to-christianity
London, Oli (November 1, 2022). I’ve rejected my trans identity to follow Jesus. Now I want to be baptised. Premier Christianity https://www.premierchristianity.com/real-life/oli-london-ive-rejected-my-trans-identity-to-follow-jesus-now-i-want-to-be-baptised/14192.article
Hernandez, Angie Orellana (October 14, 2022). Influencer Oli London Shares He’s Detransitioning Back to Male. E! News https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1350617/influencer-oli-london-shares-hes-detransitioning-back-to-male
Hernandez, Angie Orellana (September 1, 2022). Influencer Oli London Apologizes for Getting Surgery to Look Like BTS’ Jimin. E! News https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1344625/influencer-oli-london-apologizes-for-getting-surgery-to-look-like-bts-jimin
Kitanovska, Simona (August 1, 2022). Trans-Korean Oli London’s Husband Having Surgery To Look Like BTS’ Jimin. Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/transkorean-london-husband-surgery-look-like-bts-jimin-1729515
Lim Byeong-seon (June 25, 2021). [He tore off his face to look like BTS’ Jimin and now he says, “I’m Korean” and even damages the Taegeukgi.] Naver [original in Korean] https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/081/0003197039?sid=001
Hall, Dan (June 21, 2021). Korea Change: Brit singer Oli London slammed for ‘identifying’ as Korean after spending £150K on surgeries to look like K-pop idol. The Sun https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/15354652/oli-london-korean-identity-non-binary-k-pop-bts/
Diaz, Adriana (May 28, 2021) Morbid prank: Why is Oli London trending? The Sun https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/2974303/why-is-oli-london-trending/
Sophie-Ha (May 27, 2021). Netizens disturbed by Oli London’s recent suicide prank. allkpop https://www.allkpop.com/article/2021/05/tw-cw-netizens-disturbed-by-oli-londons-recent-suicide-prank
“Channel 34 News” (November 2, 2020). Oli London dies. https://channel34news.com/2020/11/oli-london-dies/
Haasch, Palmer (June 24, 2020). A British influencer got plastic surgery to look like a BTS member. Now, they’re facing backlash for saying they ‘identify as Korean’. Insider https://www.insider.com/oli-london-white-influencer-criticized-for-identifying-as-korean-2021-6
Martin, Henry (February 9, 2020). Instagram-famous London couple have spent over £250k on cosmetic surgery to make them look like their idols – a K-pop star and a ‘living doll.’ Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7984013/London-couple-spent-250k-cosmetic-surgery-make-look-like-idols.html
Conte, Peter (December 2019). BTS fan Oli London’s shocking transformation to look like K-Pop idol. Nine Entertainment https://www.nine.com.au/entertainment/latest/bts-fan-oli-london-shocking-transformation-to-look-like-kpop-idol/cd3e8bf7-7012-4b48-bf12-2db85636c67d
Staff report (June 11, 2010). Threatened stockist scraps pate de foie gras. Shropshire Star https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2010/06/11/threatened-stockist-scraps-pate-de-foie-gras/
Staff report (June 19, 2010). Victoria Martin and Oliver Squire are hoping for public support in Ludlow for a campaign against foie gras. Ludlow & Tenbury Wells Advertiser https://www.ludlowadvertiser.co.uk/news/8222638.victoria-martin-and-oliver-squire-are-hoping-for-public-support-in-ludlow-for-a-campaign-against-foie-gras/
Media
H3 Podcast (May 3, 2023). Ethan Debates Oli London – Off The Rails #70. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH972Ccee0E
Tucker Carlson Tonight (November 12, 2022). Internet celebrity detransitions back to male. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-T1CsWT00o
Piers MOrgan Uncensored (October 27, 2022). Gender Wars. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOh0c6M1Mr0
Would You Rather? (May 2, 2022). Can You Identify As Transracial? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fqg8C2DuiQ
GBNews (July 1, 2021). Oli London: ‘I’ve been transitioning, and now I’ve officially come out Korean.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu-jGlw6fGs
Judge Rinder (April 27, 2021). S8.E136: A Sex & The City Inspired Plastic Surgery Holiday To Dubai Drove Best Friends Apart. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haUMHOMsUas
Dr. Phil (January 9, 2020). Man Has Spent $150,000 On Numerous Surgeries, Can’t Feel His Face, All To Look Like His K-Pop Idol. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwZsNukh9VY
E! Entertainment (November 11, 2019). BTS’ Jimin Wannabe Look-a-Like: “Botched” Recap (S6, Ep2). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0GailWUsLU
Hooked on the Look (October 4, 2018). I’ve Spent $100,000 To Look Like A K-Pop Star. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_MgAeIkGTQ
Resources
IMDb (imdb.com)
- Oli London
- imdb.com/name/nm10012118
Wikitubia (youtube.fandom.com)
Simon & Schuster (simonandschuster.com)
- Detransition: A Memoir
- simonandschuster.com/books/Detransition/Oli-London/9781510778061 [archive]
Oli London (oli-london.com)
Instagram (instagram.com)
X/Twitter (x.com)
OnlyFans (onlyfans.com)
- olilondon [deleted]
- english_twink2
YouTube (youtube.com)
TikTok (tiktok.com)
- olilondon [deleted]
- olilondon2024
- deje_richardson
Facebook (facebook.com)
- facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565249011058 [impersonator?]
- danny.meltham
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
- Oliver Squire
- linkedin.com/in/oliversquire [deleted]