09/08/2026
This was never just about being compensated for my work.
It was about what happens when a much larger company benefits from the work of a small creator and assumes, intentionally or not, that there won’t be consequences.
I made what happened public because small businesses and customers deserve to know when this is happening in our industry.
So I’m leaving this conversation with two things I hope other small business owners and consumers remember
Being smaller does not mean you have to make yourself smaller
Being a large, polished brand does not mean they deserves less scrutiny than small businesses whose faces, values, sourcing practices, and mistakes are visible every day
Ask questions. Look behind the branding.
Know who receives your money and what you’re supporting when you spend it especially if the intentions and energy behind what you’re purchasing factor into your purchasing decisions