I have been trying to stop myself from writing about this blogger blackmail issue just so I don’t add more fuel to the already fueled issue. The harshtag #bloggerblackmail has been trending on Twitter, and everyone and their nan has something to say about it. Except the odd tweets, I havn’t said a word about it, but looks like it is out of hand already as the story is in today’s papers, so I might as well voice my opinion.
Just incase you havn’t heard about the Blogger Blackmail issue, it is between a bakery owner – Reshmi Bennet, owner of Anges De Sucre, an artisan patisserie, in London and a food blogger – Mehreen from wrapyourlipsaroundthis.com. The summary of the story is, Mehreen reached out to Reshmi, to review the restaurant’s food in return for free samples. You can read both versions of the story here – Bakery’s and Blogger’s.
Now, look the other way now if you have an issue with Bitter Truths.
The bakery owner and the blogger are BOTH wrong and I will tell you why.
The bakery owner is wrong for:
- Calling out the blogger, many bloggers will be wary of working with her after this saga.
If I were a food blogger, I would never want to work with any restaurant that openly calls out bloggers for whatever reason. It is so unprofessional. There are more amicable ways of resolving issues like this OFFLINE. You could have sent an email expressing your disgust, blacklisted her and inform your restaurant/PR friends not to work with her, but naming and shaming her online was a bad move. Especially when the blogger in question had already deleted the offensive Instagram pictures. The blog post was totally unnecessary after that.
Also, ‘the slanging off’ of the blogger’s blog name, and her not being a ‘popular’ blogger is just so low. If she was so bad why did you accept her offer to review your restaurant Reshmi? You should have said thanks but no thanks and run off to play with your ‘famous blogger friends’.
One thing, I have learnt in life is never mock or treat ANYONE badly today because you might be needing them tomorrow. That applies to both parties in this instance.
2. Not communicating exactly what SAMPLES she was willing to give the blogger in return for the review.
This sort of information needs to be in writing CLEARLY so there is no communication gap or room for assumptions. Obviously the blogger assumed she would get quite more than she was offered on the day and she was unhappy with the limited samples she was given. She felt the samples were too few for a product review post with do follow links. Whether we agree with her wanting £100 worth of macaron and marshmallow samples is a different argument. If you ask me, I still do not understand the whole food blogging thing but then again, I am not a food person so a £100 or a £1000 worth of macarons and marshmallows will be a complete waste to me, but the cake below looks yummy.
The blogger is wrong for:
- Not stating exactly what she was willingly to receive in return for a review. She should know better since she has done so many reviews already as she stated in her blog post. You cannot afford to go all the way to a restaurant for a review and not discuss what you will be getting in return for the review. That is so unprofessional.
2. Posting the Instagram pictures obviously infuriated the bakery owner. Although you deleted the pictures, you need to remember anything you post online remains somewhere online even though you delete it afterwards. Keep your emotions in check next time, we are not in the playground.
The phrase I use everytime I work with brands is; it has to be mutually beneficial for both of us, the brand and my blog. It can’t be one-sided or elese it won’t work. Hopefully both parties have learnt from this and will conduct themselves better in future collaborations.
What are your thoughts? Do share.
I agree with you- both sides are in the wrong. Unfortunately, people in general don’t seem to stop and consider things from another perspective before flying off the handle. Hopefully both parties have learned a valuable lesson!
Yea I hope they have. It could have been easily avoided.
Off to twitter to get the full story and return
Lol. I have linked to both stories so you have the full picture.
He said, she said…total lack of communication. Screenshot everything as evidence.
Exactly. I wonder what both of them were thinking.
Everything about the original article annoyed the hell out of me! She took the pee out of the lady. Hopefully they both learn a lesson. They give bloggers a bad name.
Casey – ATopsyTurvyBlog
Yeap. Hopefully they will both come out of this and be better people.
The blogger just got even more popular lol. Honestly though she wasn’t professional at all with her initial instagram post but I understand that she was mad. I hope she has learned her lesson to iron out the details first and foremost. Heck I hope every blogger reading has learnt the importance of this. As for the bakery owner she was looking for publicity for next to nothing. We all know that the product retails for £100 doesn’t mean it cost a £100 in production .
They both became more popular, never heard of the both of them until now, lol.. Brands that look for publicity in return for next to nothing really make me mad.
Ouch! I didn’t even hear about this. I hope both parties learned their lesson. Blogging should be fun experience and not be ruining by bad press but at least but parties are well known now, lol!
Sending you much love, darling & I hope you have a great day!!
XOXO, Vanessa
http://www.WhatWouldVWear.net
I hope so too because this bad press is so unnecessary.Thanks Vanessa. Have a great day.
This is something that bloggers/business owners can learn from. Thanks for sharing.
http://laceandpearlsblog.com
Thanks for reading Asa.
I heard a little of this story this week and my first reaction what that the blogger was quite audacious to ask for a big box of macaroons, or whatever she requested. That aside – and like you I’m not sure how food bloggers are paid – she really should’ve kept her cool and put it down to experience, likewise the business owners. I’m quite shocked at their unpleasant asides. Frankly I like the blog title. It’s a bit cheeky and memorable and there was absolutely no need for the business owners to make those remarks. Cool heads all round, folks. And let this be a lesson to all to agree on the price first.
Gosh I wish I could like this comment 10 times. You hit the nail on the head.
Both acted like spoilt children.
No sympathy for either.
I agree.. None here either.
You have awesome blog! Very interesting! Love your picture there, btw. 🙂
http://www.lenparent.com
Thank you.
Agree 100%! Didn’t even know this had happened but I see that this could have been very well avoided.
Exactly.
Mmmm, I’ve just got to agree with you here on the fact that neither party communicated well. Although, even as blogger, I admit I don’t think Mehreen should have been so flat out rude with her Instagram posts. Perhaps just do one pic with a quick description stating something a bit more subtle, then take it out on the blog.
Anyway, you’re right. So sad that people suck at communicating 😛 I know I always try to be as clear as possible when negotiating a deal.
http://www.MARINASAYS.com
Yea me too. It pays to have the terms CLEARLY spelt out to avoid any confusion.
Unfortunately Stella, businesses take bloggers for granted not realising it takes time to create contents that are original and relatable to readers.
The Blogger acted childish. She should have known from the start it wasn’t going to be a smooth ride so she should have dropped off the ride. Any way, I hope they both learn.
Mojisola
http://www.mojintouch.com
Exactly. I let every brand know what my terms are before I take on the job. The blogger should have known better.
They way the blogger wrote on Instagram was wrong, since they had a deal she should have kept her “emotions” in check and be more professional about it, writing a proper blog post instead of acting out on social media. And the Bakery, the fact that they have time to slag off a Blogger huumm… says a lot about them and nothing good.
http://ekselectionsbeauty.com/home/blog/
Exactly. I hope both parties have learnt from this.
Whilst I agree this mostly comes down to a lack of communication, I disagree about calling out the blogger.
Looking at a unrelated scenario, if you have a bad experience with a hotel, or a company, or a professional business, then it’s your right to talk about the experience online and give them a bad review.
This is simply what the bakery did. They had a blogger approach them, offering a review in exchange for some free (unpaid for in monetary value) product. The blogger came, was unhappy with what they were being given and expected more, wasn’t given more, said ‘I’ll be writing about this’ before leaving, then returning to get some product and went on a social media tirade.
This was all before the bakery wrote any blog. The blogger obviously wants to be treat like a professional and expects to be paid like one, yet acts very unprofessional. I agree that some bloggers may be put off working with the bakery, but isn’t it important to allow other food establishments to know how the blogger had acted.
Where the bakery went wrong was when they started to insult the blogger. There was no need to comment on the blogs name, or say that she wasn’t a well known blogger. The bakery was wrong for doing this, but they still had the right to name the blogger and talk about the experience.
Ultimately it’s as you said, it was communication that failed here. Nothing was set out before hand, but the real issue lies in using your phone in anger. The blogger said it was a mistake, and it’s one she’s had a lot of grief over, but it’s a lesson that people just don’t seem to learn. The biggest mistake you can make is picking up your phone in anger.
Sorry for overly long comment ^^;
Yea I agree with all you have said Liam. The blogger started all the nonsense but I believe the bakery owner should have reacted to her nonsense in a more matured way.
PS: I enjoy reading long comments…..