Yeah, this audience-for-hire business has been going on for some time and really took off with the advent of social media. In its early days it quietly provided reliable, non-combative scripted callers for radio talkshows.
Yes it has been around for a while - so have paparazzi for hire. If you want to make yourself into a social media celebrity hire a crowd and some paparazzi to wait outside a restaurant for you. A couple of security guards to “hold the crowds back”.