TikToker Charli D’Amelio faces backlash online after ‘cosplaying being broke’ in a promotional video
CHARLI #CHARLI
Charli and Dixie D’Amelio, two of the biggest faces on TikTok, are dealing with a backlash after they posted videos to promote their new snacks while pretending to work at Walmart.
Charli D’Amelio, who has over 151 million followers, posted about her family’s popcorn brand, Be Happy Snacks. The snacks are sold in Walmart stores and currently feature four flavors.
In the post, the two sisters playfully stocked shelves with their bags of popcorn in the back and worked the register. While fans of Charli were excited to see the new partnership, many of the 13.4 million viewers were upset at the post — with several comments accusing the TikTok stars of being insensitive.
“I wish I could cosplay being broke instead of just being broke,” replied @arloxacid.
“I wish working a minimum wage retail job was that fun,” commented @niam00n.
Currently, according to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly wage for a Walmart employee in the U.S. is $24.84. On the other hand, Celebrity Net Worth reports that Charli D’Amelio charges about $100,000 per sponsored TikTok post.
One commenter, Anthony Broadley, who works in retail himself, elaborated on where he felt she could have improved her perspective.
“I wouldn’t say she’s cosplaying being broke, but she’s cosplaying a Walmart worker while most employees are probably having financial hardship,” Broadley told In The Know by Yahoo. “I feel celebrities could do more in advocating for fair wages within the stores they promote their products in.”
D’Amelio isn’t the first celebrity to film themselves working at a retail job, nor the first one to receive critiques about it. In 2021, Snoop Dogg was filmed working at a Raising Cane’s restaurant during a meet-and-greet. In 2022, Jack Harlow worked at KFC to promote his partnership with the company. While Snoop Dogg’s efforts were seen as funny, Harlow received similar criticisms to D’Amelio.
“Dressing up as a minimum wage employee as a way to promote your newest album and also promote McDonald’s, it just doesn’t sit right with me,” @mediamayhem0 says in his post while referring to a photo of Saweetie.
In The Know by Yahoo reached out to Charli, but didn’t receive a response. She also has not released a statement about the matter.
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