Bushra Shaikh, a British-Pakistani media personality who appeared on the BBC's The Apprentice in 2017, has attended the funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran. She was among a reported 400 non-Iranian influencers and social media activists invited by the Iranian regime to the multi-day event in Enghelab Square. The story matters because it highlights how the Islamic Republic has cultivated a network of sympathetic Western social media figures to promote its message internationally.

Shaikh shared videos of herself amid mourners waving the regime's flag and posted messages including "Long live the Islamic Republic" and describing it as an honour to report the "historic moment". According to Canada-based outlet Iran Wire, many of the invited influencers have a record of backing the regime, supporting its stance on Gaza and its confrontation with Israel and the US, with some having previously travelled to Iran to produce pro-regime content. Shaikh, who has also featured on GB News, BBC One and Channel 5, has drawn controversy in the UK over her support for the Iranian government.