Jono Castano's Instagram Growth Sparks New Doubts

Fitness influencer Jono Castano is once again under scrutiny for the authenticity of his Instagram following, following recent analytics revealing unusual spikes in followers for both his account and that of his girlfriend, Emily Ryder. Castano's account, with approximately 986,000 followers, experienced a gain of 12,046 followers on January 28, despite a loss the previous day, and a further jump of 11,443 followers on February 4, following days of consistent losses. Ryder's account, with 30,500 followers, saw a surge of 5,798 followers on February 5, a day she did not post.

These questions arise as brands become more diligent in vetting influencer accounts for partnerships. When approached for comment, Castano responded humorously, sharing a clip of his follower analytics and suggesting the media should focus on more concerning stories. He previously addressed similar claims in 2023, labeling them as baseless gossip and highlighting his 14 years in the fitness industry. RMIT social media expert Professor Lisa Given commented that significant follower numbers mean such percentage increases are not necessarily indicative of inauthentic growth and that daily drops of a few hundred followers are negligible.

This situation surfaces weeks after Castano's public dispute with his ex-girlfriend Simone Holtznagel regarding their co-parenting arrangements and child support payments for their daughter Gia. Holtznagel alleged low child support payments, which Castano vehemently denied, presenting evidence of substantial payments made since December. He acknowledged lower payments prior to late last year due to disagreements over an 'insane' sum requested by Holtznagel. Holtznagel also made critical comments about Castano's partner Emily Ryder and his ex-wife Amy, as well as his driving license status and questioned his audacity in commenting on her appearance.