'You're throwing away the opportunity of a lifetime': Entitled influencer demands free painting from up-and-coming artist in exchange for "exposure", wanting to fake paying full price to followers, threatens to report her to Etsy when artist refuses

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Aug 25, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

These days, it truly feels like anyone could become a self-proclaimed 'influencer'...I mean, you pick up your phone, snap a picture of your avocado toast, and make sure to get the Alo logo on your track pants in the corner of the frame. There you have it, suddenly everyone eats avocado and wears sweatpants because of YOU. We're kidding, relax, I'm not saying influencing is not hard work, and I take my hat off to those who are truly passionate about making a fun and interesting community for those who aspire to a similar lifestyle. However, I do believe that there is a sort of entitlement that comes with the PR side of influencing. 

As a 'beginner' in the social media world, to give a product or service exposure, you need to be able to afford them. At least until you are established and influential enough to be given PR and invited to special events. Yet, many starting wannabe influencers feel as though they can post one or two videos and suddenly companies will come running after them to show off their work. No babe. 

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  • Take this aspiring influencer as a prime example of delusion…She thought it was a great idea to ask for a free painting from an up-and-coming artist, claiming that she would tell her followers she paid full price in a ‘so-called’ attempt to get them to make the same purchases. When she is refused, because why in the world would someone gift their works to someone with the same following as a Labrador in a party hat, she threatens to report her to the online store from which she sells her paintings! Ahhh, blackmail at its finest!  

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    Influencer filling a video about make up products
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    Entitled influencer demanded a free painting, wanted to fake paying full price, then threatened to report me to Etsy

    So I got a message from an "influencer" who said she loved my paintings and wanted me to send her one for free. Not only
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    that, but she also asked me to pay for overnight shipping so it wouldn't get "damaged." She even said she needed it by
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    August 30th, and if the original piece was too small, I should paint a bigger one in time for that deadline. In return, she promised "exposure."
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    When I said no, she flipped it. First she told me I was throwing away the opportunity of a lifetime. Then she said we could
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    "pretend" she paid full price so it would look like she was supporting me. She even said that making it seem like she paid
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    full price would "help my cause" of adopting my siblings, because her followers would think she was financially helping me and would
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    be encouraged to buy too. Basically she wanted me to give her free art, pay shipping, make it larger on a deadline, and let her
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    lie about being some kind of savior. When I still refused, she escalated and threatened to report my Etsy shop.
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    And finally, she ended it with some ridiculous fake curse in "Latin" about how no one would ever buy my art again.
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    All of that... just because I wouldn't give away a free painting.
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    Artist paining whilst sitting on the floor
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    Substantialgood4102 These people need to be shamed publicly. I see these posts all the time but no one names them. If they do this bring them to the light.
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    Inside_Major_8078 I would be preemptive and contact Etsy that you/your site was being threatened. Send copies of all the messages.
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    If there is one filed, they can nip it in the bud and follow up with any of their own actions. Esp as she is trying to cheat Etsy out of their % share of the sale.
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    Existing-Quote 7936 Since the entire exchanged happened on tik tok, post everything on tik tok. Bet her "followers "would love to hear about how she only wants to pretend to help adopt your siblings.
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    daisylovepeaches You did the right thing by refusing her demands, and you shouldn't let her threats intimidate you. Etsy's got your back, and you're following their guidelines. If she tries to report you, I'm sure it'll blow over quickly. Keep doing what you're doing, and don't let entitled influencers take advantage of you. You got this!
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    muddlebrainedmedic I think you're being unreasonable. If she was willing to pretend to pay you, the least you could do is pretend to paint her something and then pretend to ship it to her. Fair is fair.
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    Woman wrapping a gift
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    Adventurous_Spot1183 I've had two run-ins with influencers. I reply the same - you pay full price, I give a modest discount to your followers. If I get enough sales, I'll refund your stay. Funnily enough they never seem keen after that.
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    Edelgeuse As soon as the word "influencer" gets used, i go blind from the eyerolls.
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    FlashyHabit3030 Entitled people are becoming more and more exhausting.
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    Purple-Prince-9896 Let us know your Etsy shop so we can buy your art. You know, exposure.
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    Pixoholic Exposure goes both ways. If she gives you bad publicity because of this, the same could be said for her because of this interaction.
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    Averice 1970 Saying "I'm an influencer" should be an automatic 5 year Deportation to an uninhabited tropical island with no Internet capabilities....
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    IDGAF53 I wanna painting too
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    PervyJohn69 I was under the impression that this kind of behavior and expectation occurs relatively frequently with artists and not just from influencers. I mean, hey, like, I left a supportive comment so, maybe you can draw me as a superhero, for free of course, because, like I was nice.
    via PervyJohn69

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expectations followers shipping redditstory exposure painter videos artist askreddit etsy influencer memebase painting influencers free entitled people
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