Influencer Hannah Neeleman Reacts to Backlash Over $260 Cutting Board

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Hannah Neeleman is addressing her latest controversy.

After facing criticism online for selling a $259 cutting board, the influencer behind Ballerina Farm posted a video to explain why it was so expensive.

I’ve been seeing a lot of comments about this beautiful scalloped cutting board, and yeah, it is a bit of a splurge! I actually received mine a few years back – I think it was about three years ago. A sweet local mom reached out and offered it to me; she and her husband handmake them, and she really wanted me to have one. It’s such a special piece!

I met someone who was incredibly genuine, and we’ve become good friends. This summer, she told me, with tears in her eyes, that my success selling cutting boards had unfortunately created tension within her family and their business. She explained that the rapid sales had really altered their family dynamic.

The man, age 34, explained that the cutting board’s substantial weight justified its cost.

We make many decisions focused on product quality, but we’re also rapidly growing as a company and facing increased scrutiny as we try new things.

She admitted building their brand with Daniel hasn’t been easy, and that the challenges they’ve faced have left her feeling uncertain about the future.

We make many decisions focused on product quality, but we’re also building a company and facing a lot of scrutiny as we try new things.

She admitted building their brand with Daniel hasn’t been easy, and that the challenges they’ve faced have left her feeling uncertain about the future.

Hannah admitted that managing everything has been challenging, especially with a growing audience. People assume she has it all planned out, but the past few months have been a learning process. She’s been figuring out how to balance motherhood, running a business, and continuing to grow and share her life – it hasn’t been easy.

The TikTok creator also highlighted a $144 box of 30 handmade croissants sold on her website, explaining that the high price covers the time and effort put into making them, as well as the cost of shipping them to customers.

Hannah explained that the product’s high cost isn’t due to increased online demand or any price increases on their end. The cost simply reflects what the postal service charges them for shipping.

Keep reading for more influencer scandals…

Okay, so, I used to be such a huge Miranda Sings fan. Like, obsessed. But then everything just… fell apart. It started with this YouTuber, KodeeRants, posting about some seriously disturbing stuff – screenshots of texts supposedly from Colleen Ballinger, the person behind Miranda, and it was awful. They showed her interacting with fans, and it looked… predatory. Apparently, there was this group chat called “Colleeny’s Weenies” – I can’t even believe I’m saying that – and the claims are just so messed up. Then Adam McIntyre, who used to run a fan account for Miranda when he was a kid, came forward and said Colleen emotionally groomed fans, and it just confirmed my fears. She hasn’t actually said anything directly about it, just posted this weird, rambling ukulele song about how it’s all a big misunderstanding and everyone’s just trying to harass her. Honestly, it felt like she was completely dismissing the concerns. Now her tour’s canceled, and she’s just… gone silent on social media. It’s just… heartbreaking and honestly, really disturbing to think about everything that’s come out. I don’t even know what to think anymore. It’s ruined everything.

Rachel Hollis, author of Girl, Wash Your Face, faced criticism after sharing a story about her house cleaner. In a now-deleted post, she recalled being called out for her privilege after admitting she pays someone to clean her toilets. She defended herself by saying she worked hard for the money and argued that many iconic figures, like Harriet Tubman, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Marie Curie, and Oprah Winfrey, were also “unrelatable.”

This sparked backlash, and Hollis later apologized on Instagram. She acknowledged that mentioning accomplished women, especially women of color, was insensitive, as she couldn’t fully understand their struggles. She also recognized that she had overlooked the difficulties faced by people whose hard work doesn’t guarantee financial stability, often due to systemic racism and bias. Hollis concluded by saying she needs to listen more and speak less.

In March 2020, the founder of the Something Navy brand announced on Instagram that she had tested positive for COVID-19 and planned to quarantine with her husband, Brandon Charnas, and their daughters, Ruby and Esme, in their Manhattan apartment. However, just eight days later, she and her entire household—including their nanny—left the city for the Hamptons. This caused a backlash online, as followers criticized her for seemingly ignoring social distancing guidelines and flaunting outdoor activities while claiming she was quarantining.

When her husband cracked that only “hot” people were getting the virus, emotions boiled over.  

She followed up with a detailed apology, explaining that their nanny also had the virus, they took precautions like having their building’s doormen clear the lobby and avoiding stops for gas or groceries, and their Hamptons home was located on a quiet street. However, the controversy continued to affect her.

Nordstrom, a former retailer of her clothing line, decided not to renew their contract, which had ended in 2019. Charnas, who had a third daughter named Navy in 2021, then relaunched her brand by selling directly to consumers, saying she wanted more creative control. She’s now back to sharing her favorite items from Shopbop and partnering with A Pea in the Pod.

In an interview on The Glossy Podcast, she admitted, “People wanted me to be more aware and considerate of what was happening in the world, and I should have been.”

In 2020, fashion influencer Emily Gellis Lande publicly criticized registered dietitian Tanya Zuckerbrot. Lande shared unverified stories from dieters claiming they experienced serious health problems – including rashes, cramps, potential metal poisoning, and even miscarriage – after spending over $20,000 on Zuckerbrot’s high-fiber F-Factor Diet. The story gained attention from The New York Times.

Zuckerbrot, represented by lawyer Lanny Davis (formerly with Bill Clinton’s White House), denied the allegations and disputed claims that her diet caused eating disorders. She told the Times that out of over 176,000 purchases of her products, she’d only received 50 health complaints. She also released testing results to address concerns about heavy metals and appeared on Today to defend her program.

Zuckerbrot dismissed Lande’s criticisms, telling the Times she believes Lande thinks she’s helping people by warning them about a harmful lifestyle, despite Lande being “just a fashion blogger.”

Zuckerbrot has filed two lawsuits against Lande, alleging a deliberate campaign to damage her brand. Lande denies these claims, and the lawsuits are still ongoing.

In 2020, following a global rise in awareness of racial injustice, stylist Jessica Mulroney faced criticism of her own. Lifestyle blogger Sasha Exeter publicly shared that Mulroney took offense to her call for followers to support the Black community and speak out against racism. Exeter claimed Mulroney responded with problematic behavior, including speaking negatively about her to business contacts and sending a threatening message.

Mulroney initially apologized publicly and announced plans to use her platform to amplify Black voices. However, the Canadian television network CTV dropped her reality show, I Do, Redo.

Ben Mulroney, Jessica’s husband, stepped down from his position as co-host of eTalk, expressing his hope that his replacement would be a person of color. Despite the controversy, Jessica Mulroney maintained her friendship with Meghan Markle, stating they are like family.

Jake Paul, known for his viral videos like “I DUCT TAPED My Brothers $400,000 Dollar TRUCK!” and a previous role on Disney Channel’s Bizaardvark, gained significant popularity on YouTube. In August 2020, the FBI searched his home in Calabasas, California, in connection with an incident at a Scottsdale, Arizona mall in May. Paul had been live-streaming a Black Lives Matter protest that led to the Fashion Square Mall, and police say he stayed inside after they ordered everyone to leave. Paul claimed on Twitter that he and his group didn’t participate in any looting or vandalism.

The FBI search sparked a lot of discussion, and video footage showed police carrying firearms from Paul’s home. In a video he later deleted, Paul stated the search was solely related to the Arizona incident and dismissed rumors linking it to other issues, calling them “absurd.” Although no charges were filed, Paul’s lawyer said they would cooperate with the investigation.

After remaining quiet for three years, Ned Fulmer has finally spoken out about the cheating scandal that led to his departure from the popular YouTube comedy group, The Try Guys, which at the time included Keith Habersberger, Zach Kornfeld, and Eugene Lee Yang.

 

I definitely played up the image of a happily married guy and often talked about how great my relationship was,” he told People magazine. “Fans seemed to really like that side of me, so I intentionally focused on it. It was a genuine part of my life, too.”

 

He explained that the situation caused such a scandal because of the irony involved, and it felt like a betrayal to those who were following it. He also said it must have been incredibly upsetting for viewers.

Over a year after reconciling with fellow beauty influencer Tati Westbrook, James Charles found himself embroiled in new controversies. In August 2020, he subtly criticized celebrities launching makeup lines, seemingly targeting Alicia Keys’ skincare collection, and later apologized, admitting he shouldn’t dictate who can create makeup.

Just two weeks later, Charles faced another backlash after criticizing Lauren Conrad’s new beauty line. He posted Instagram Stories showing empty packaging he received, implying Conrad shouldn’t have a makeup brand.

Conrad responded with humor, explaining on Instagram that an assistant mistakenly included the empty samples with the gifts. She jokingly said the assistant would be fired.

Charles later apologized, stating the videos were meant as a joke and that he and Conrad had resolved the issue privately. However, it appeared he was aware of his actions and the impact they had.

In May 2020, YouTuber Myka Stauffer began a video by stating it was the most difficult one she and her husband, James, had ever made. It wasn’t about typical parenting content; instead, they revealed they had rehomed their four-year-old son, Huxley, who they adopted from China in 2017, due to challenges with his autism.

The announcement sparked widespread outrage among their nearly one million subscribers. Many questioned whether the couple had been irresponsible or had exploited Huxley for views and donations, abandoning him when his care became too difficult. The Stauffers lost followers and sponsorships from brands like Fabletics, Suave, and Danimals. The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio even confirmed they were investigating Huxley’s welfare.

Though authorities closed the case in late June without filing charges, Myka’s online presence remains inactive. She hasn’t posted on YouTube or Instagram since releasing a statement apologizing for her naiveté during the adoption process and clarifying they were not under investigation.

A TikTok creator named Kaitlyn Teaches shared a video of a lunch her husband made for her. The lunch included a bag of dog food and a note saying, “Because you’re my dawg,” along with leftover Chipotle from two days prior. After the video received a lot of negative reactions, she responded to the criticism about what she called a joke.

In a TikTok video from September 2025, she addressed the weekend’s events, saying people were overly concerned about him calling her a dog.

She explained, speaking slowly, “He didn’t call me ‘dog’ like the animal. He called me ‘dawg’ – D-A-W-G – which is just slang for ‘friend’ or ‘homie.’ We say it to each other all the time. It’s a joke, a J-O-K-E, just a joke.”

Okay, so, like, it all started when Tayler announced this road trip with Chase back in May 2020. He just casually mentioned it on Twitter, saying they might drive across the country, and everyone totally lost it! People were mad they were traveling when we were all supposed to be staying home, and Tayler just brushed it off, saying most states had already lifted restrictions and they were just keeping to themselves. Honestly, it felt like he didn’t get how serious it was.

But then things got really bad. Five days later, they were driving through Texas, and the sheriff’s office confirmed they were both arrested! Tayler for marijuana, and Chase for something even worse. It was all over the news! They bailed out the next day, but it was a total disaster. TopMob tried to get a statement, but Tayler’s team wouldn’t say anything and Chase’s just…ghosted everyone.

Then, in June, Tayler wrote this whole thing for People magazine about getting sober. He said he was “on the path” and learning from his mistakes, promising he’d make us proud. It was… a lot. I just want him to be okay, you know? I really believe he can change.

Not all pranks are harmless fun. While a playful joke might be George Clooney and Brad Pitt covering Julia Roberts’ door in shaving cream, what the Stokes Twins did was much different—and illegal. In October 2019, the YouTube personalities dressed in black, pretended to be bank robbers, and filmed themselves calling an Uber as a “getaway car.” The Uber driver wasn’t amused and refused to drive, and a passerby called the police.

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, police arrived and pulled the driver out of the car at gunpoint. Once they realized he wasn’t involved, they let him go and warned the Stokes Twins about the danger of their actions.

Just four hours later, the twins allegedly repeated the prank on the University of California, Irvine campus, leading to their arrest. They faced up to four years in prison on charges of false imprisonment and swatting. Orange County D.A. Todd Spitzer stated that their actions “could have resulted in someone getting seriously injured or even killed.”

Although their lawyer claimed they were innocent, the Stokes Twins eventually pled guilty to lesser charges of misdemeanor false imprisonment and reporting false emergencies. They were sentenced to 160 hours of community service and one year of probation.

Shane Dawson, once known as the “King of YouTube” with over 34 million followers, faced a downfall in June 2020 after a controversial tweet led to widespread criticism. In the tweet, he harshly criticized members of the online beauty community, accusing them of being self-centered and manipulative, and specifically called out James Charles.

His followers quickly pointed out his own problematic behavior, and Dawson responded with a 20-minute apology video titled “Taking Accountability.” He admitted to past mistakes, including using blackface, making racist comments, joking about pedophilia, and posting a video that inappropriately sexualized Willow Smith when she was 11 years old.

Dawson explained he wanted to take responsibility for his actions and acknowledged he deserved consequences. YouTube responded by suspending the ability to earn money from his three accounts.

He later returned to creating content in 2021, surprisingly stating he was “grateful” for being “canceled” because it had positively changed his life.

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2025-11-21 21:48