British adult creator Bonnie Blue has been detained in Bali after her infamous 'BangBus' tour collided with Indonesia’s tough anti-p*rnography laws - leaving her and a group of male tourists facing serious consequences.
Tia Billinger, the 26-year-old behind the Bonnie Blue persona, was taken into custody on Friday, December 5, alongside 17 male tourists aged between 19 and 40.
The group, reportedly from Australia and the UK, is suspected of creating pornographic content while in the Indonesian province, a serious offense under local law.
'School Bonnie Blue' outfits, condoms and cameras seized in raid
Authorities moved in after receiving a tip-off from the public about alleged indecent video production.
Badung Police Chief Arif Batubara confirmed the arrests, citing a report of “suspected p*rnography or the creation of indecent video material," per the Daily Mail.
Officers seized a range of items, including professional video cameras, lubricant, condoms, viagra pills, and 19 provocative outfits labeled “School Bonnie Blue.”
The so-called 'BangBus truck' - used as a mobile set for filming explicit content - was also confiscated.
Bonnie Blue is known for her controversial challenges. Credit: Bonnie Blue/Instagram
Billinger, who is no stranger to controversy and once staged a fake arrest in the UK for publicity, had been using social media to promote her Schoolies week arrival in Bali with a risqué twist.
Videos on her Instagram account allegedly show her inviting teens over the age of 18 to join her 'BangBus' for sexually explicit activities, targeting Australian graduates celebrating Schoolies.
Despite the serious situation, Billinger remained defiant in an interview last month. Speaking to A Current Affair, she said: “But let’s just say, I’ve got good lawyers and I will be doing schoolies this year.” She added: “I don’t want to give too much away.”
Risk of 15-year prison term under Indonesia’s strict laws
Indonesia’s Pornography Act - officially Undang-Undang Nomor 44 Tahun 2008 tentang P*rnografi - bans the creation, possession, distribution, and promotion of explicit material.
Penalties range from six months to 15 years in prison, with fines reaching up to 6 billion rupiah (around $360,000), especially if elements like coercion or underage involvement are suspected.
Billinger, who gained notoriety after claiming to have slept with over 1,000 men in 12 hours, is now reportedly under investigation by immigration officials, who plan to question her within the next 48 hours.
Though the legal ramifications are serious, experts suggest she may avoid prison time.
Philo Dellano, managing partner at a Jakarta-based immigration law firm, told News.com.au: “She is being detained by the police, which means they can proceed to prosecute her. But in my opinion, if there is an ‘invisible hand’ that requests that she be deported, she can be transferred to the nearest immigration office, from where she will be deported from Indonesia.”
Bonnie Blue could face jail time. Credit: Instagram / Bonnie Blue
Tourists released, but the probe continues
While Billinger remains in Bali, reportedly staying at her hotel as investigations continue, 17 other tourists were interviewed as witnesses and released on Saturday, December 6. Among them were 14 Australians who are now expected to return home soon.
An immigration official from Ngurah Rai told the Daily Mail: “They (the 14 Australians) will be allowed to go back to their country after we finish the examination.”
The official added: “We will be deepening the investigation to check her activity during her time in Bali and work jointly with police.”
When asked whether three other men still being questioned could face charges, the same official said: “If they did not make commercial content, maybe that’s not a problem. If they make commercial content, we could charge them. We could also check whether it has created unrest in the community or not.”