Shooting witness Clare an internet celebrity

Outspoken Sydney shooting witness Clare Werbeloff has become an overnight internet sensation — so much so, she has engaged a PR representative to deal with the flood of media interest.

The 19-year-old found fame online after giving her politically incorrect eyewitness account of a Kings Cross shooting to Nine News.

The resulting public attention has apparently been so overwhelming for Ms Werbeloff, who is from Sydney's northern beaches, that's she's been forced to turn to a PR agency to manage her.

Do you think it's a good idea for Clare to hire a PR agent? Leave your comment below.

"She's been inundated with calls this morning," spokesman Adam Abrams told ninemsn this afternoon.

"We will be releasing a statement tomorrow."

Around 3am on Sunday morning, a man in his 20s was shot twice in the leg outside a strip club on Darlinghurst Road at Kings Cross. (Read more: Man shot twice in Kings Cross attack)

Overnight TV camera crews sought out witnesses and it was Clare's frank description of two men who began the argument that pushed the story into the stratosphere.

"There were these two wogs fighting," she told Nine News.

"The fatter wog said to the skinnier wog, 'Oi bro, you slept with my cousin'.

"And the other one said 'Nah man, I didn't for s***, eh' and the other one goes, 'I will call on my fully sick boys, eh'. "And then [he] pulled out a gun and went [gun-cocking sound] BOOM. "

The shooter, who was wearing a black hooded top and jeans, fled police on foot while the victim was taken to St Vincent's Hospital in a stable condition.

Her video interview attracted more than 100,000 views, a Facebook fan group with over 1800 members has appeared and even t-shirts featuring Clare quotes are available online.

The group, "Clare the Kings Cross bogan fan club", has spawned internet memes such as ironic motivational posters featuring the young woman and two other people interviewed on the night.

(PHOTOS: See the online satire)

Forums are abuzz with threads on the video, and bloggers have been posting the video attached to their commentary on the event.

User comments

Cant believe the media would use her name when such a serious crime has been committed!She may have no commonsense to blah on like that ,but surely she deserves anonominity!

It just goes to show you that ignorance and classlessness comes in all genders, races and nationalities. I hope many Americans have seen this video, as too many Americans believe that ALL Australians are happy-go-lucky, fair-haired, likeable, even-tempered Crocodile Dundee types. Trust me, Australia has its share of *** too! The next time I hear "only in America", followed by the classic eye rolling, I will remind them of Clare Werbeloff and those of her ilk.

I think everyone needs to lay off. Far out! She's some girl who saw a crime and reported what she saw. She wasn't trying to show off and all that, but everyone else has blown it up. And everyone needs to get over politically incorrect or "Racist remarks". She wasn't saying it to intentionally offend anyone or *** on their cultures or race. Isn't it just as bad to play down certain races as it is to point them out??? If they're a different race, so what? Everyone needs to get over themselves!

Care for Clare! It's all about Jake, he's seen enough!!!!

lol thats so not racist - its how some people talk... funny as

I think it’s an absolute disgrace that people are calling her racist over the stereotype. Every single person in the world makes stereotypes of people whether it is of ***, Lebs, Aussies, Americans, Chinese or whatever... For people who are commenting that she is being racist, grow up. It is not racism its realism. Plus you are all hypocrites, because every chance you get to make a stereotype of someone, you do!!

I can't believe this makes news.

This is absolutely crazy...the fact that one outspoken and overly animated girl can be named as a celebrity just because she gave a witness statement with a bit of flair. It just prooves that anyone is keen to jump on the 'bandwagon' of anyone these days and call them a celebrity.

Clare, your 15 minutes has commenced. In four weeks, you will be forgotten. I bet most of those calls she got are from pimps looking for a good time for their clients. And all the website hits do not prove her popularity, more so how many people out there are laughing at her.

Okay some of you have made comments about her looks and her inability to speak "like a reporter" And I'm not disputing that. She is a very pretty young lady and maybe not as educated as some or maybe just under the influence of alcohol as it is 3am. BUT the thing that concerns me the most about this is that the media does need to take some responsibility as well as the PR company that she hired. She is a witness that spoke about the crime and has probably put herself in danger. The media should stop anymore articles on this subject and the PR company should give her some advice and tell her to make no more comments unless its needed in the court system! I am concerned for her well being and hope the media wake up and see what they are doing here.

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