Influencer’s “Divorce Registry” Has the Internet Divided

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Becca Murray is adding a new perspective to a common tradition. 

A popular TikToker, known for her lifestyle content and boasting over 450,000 followers, has responded to the criticism she faced when announcing a “divorce registry” – an online wishlist of gifts her fans could buy for her following her separation from long-term partner, Will Gatlin, after 13 years together.

For Becca, the critique came as something of a surprise since the wish list was intended to be non-obligatory, much like a wedding registry that serves as a suggestion for gifts for the guests.

She made it clear during her July 27 TikTok video that having a divorce registry doesn’t obligate you to contribute to it. There is absolutely no requirement or expectation.

She likely established a divorce registry as people were querying whether they could contribute items to replace those lost during the divorce, such as serving dishes, a bedspread, and a blender.

Three months post our separation, I found myself inundated with fans asking for ways to show their support. So, I decided to establish a platform where we could all come together and share our love for this shared passion.

Becca pointed out that most of the individuals contributing through her registry were those who had gone through a similar life transformation. In her words, these contributors empathized with the challenges of managing the practical aspects of losing possessions, while simultaneously grappling with the emotional upheaval caused by having one’s life, support system, and future suddenly disrupted.

The content creator continued, “It’s earth shattering.”

Ultimately, Becca hopes that those who disagree with her could do it in a respectful way. 

She expressed: “It’s alright if you don’t feel like interacting with me during these tough times in my life, and it’s okay if you don’t care for me. However, it’s not acceptable for you to send harmful messages because I chose to accept help from those who offered.

She added, “If you haven’t offered it, I don’t want it. I didn’t ask you.”

After Becca made things clear, numerous individuals expressed their backing towards her distinctive idea, advocating that divorce registries ought to become more commonplace.

It really frustrates me when people claim they want community but then criticize others for participating in community-oriented activities,” one TikTok user wrote under the post. “This is exactly what communities are all about – helping each other out.

In my perspective, when it comes to going through a divorce, you have the full freedom to feel sorrow, work through the experience, and heal in whatever way feels most comfortable for you.

Others thought the concept could even be applied to other major life changes. 

A user pointed out that, since they’ve never been in a relationship, they think it’s great that registries are common for significant life changes. They believe we should all be more supportive of each other, and they appreciate how these registries help make this support more normal.

Someone else proposed creating the following registries: “Lost Job Registry” for those seeking employment assistance, “No Contact with Parents, Need Support” registry for individuals in need of emotional support, “100 Pounds Lost, Don’t Know How to Dress” registry for fashion advice seekers, and “Coming Out and Wanting to Explore a New Look” registry for those seeking guidance on transitioning their appearance after coming out.

For more influencers who have gotten caught up in controversies, keep reading. 

2023 was a challenging year for me, as Colleen Ballinger, the woman behind the beloved character, Miranda Sings. The spotlight turned on me when allegations of inappropriate behavior with underage fans surfaced.

A YouTuber named KodeeRants shared a video, titled “why I left the Colleen Ballinger fandom…”, which contained screenshots of an alleged conversation between me and my followers. The conversation was said to be exploitative in nature, but NBC News could not verify the authenticity of these screenshots.

Following this, content creator Adam McIntyre, who used to run a fan account for Miranda Sings when he was just ten years old, released videos on his YouTube channel accusing me of emotionally grooming my fans. I have yet to directly address these claims, and I did not respond to TopMob News’ request for comment.

However, on June 28, I addressed the allegations in a 10-minute ukulele song posted to my personal YouTube account. In the video, I compared the accusations to a “toxic gossip train” headed for “manipulation station” while the rest of the internet “tie me to the tracks and harass me for my past.”

In July, all remaining dates of my Miranda Sings tour were canceled. Since then, I have not posted on social media.

The conversation started when the author of “Girl, Wash Your Face” made a post about her house cleaner that became increasingly messy. In a clip of the since-deleted post shared by Angie Treasure, Hollis discussed a woman who “cleans the toilets,” mentioning that someone commented she was privileged and Hollis responded by saying she worked hard for her financial position. She then stated that icons such as Harriet Tubman, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Marie Curie, and Oprah Winfrey were “unrelatable.”

However, it’s important to note that while selling millions of books is impressive, Hollis is not a revered abolitionist like these women. A few days later, Hollis issued an Instagram apology, acknowledging that she had caused pain by mentioning prominent women, including several women of color, whose struggles and achievements she cannot understand. Furthermore, she admitted to disregarding the hard work of those who do not have financial security due to racist and biased systems.

In her apology, Hollis added, “The important thing for me to do now, something I should have already done, is honestly, be quiet and listen.

In March 2020, the creator of Something Navy clothing line and original blogger shared with her Instagram followers that she had tested positive for COVID-19, intending to isolate at her Manhattan apartment with her husband Brandon Charnas and their daughters Ruby and Esme. However, after eight days, they all left for the Hamptons with their team, including their nanny. It must be said, this wasn’t her most admirable decision. The comments on her Instagram page became more critical as she bragged about going outside for “fresh air” instead of maintaining social distance.

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

Later, she published a long apology addressing various issues – their nanny had also fallen ill with the virus, they had arranged for doormen to clear their building’s lobby before leaving, avoided filling up at gas stations, and had groceries delivered; their Hamptons residence was on a relatively secluded street, but the fallout remained.

Nordstrom, who previously stocked Charnas’ line, chose not to renew the contract that expired in 2019. In response, Charnas – who welcomed her third daughter, Navy, in 2021 – shifted towards a direct-to-consumer rebrand, stating “I desired more control,” and is now back to sharing her favorite Shopbop picks and collaborations with A Pea in the Pod.

On The Glossy Podcast, she openly admitted, “People expected me to be more mindful of global events, and I should have been.

In 2020, fashion influencer Emily Gellis Lande publicly criticized registered dietitian, Elissa Zuckerbrot, over allegations of health issues caused by Zuckerbrot’s F-Factor Diet. In a series of posts, Gellis Lande shared unverified testimonies from dieters who claimed to have experienced various health problems after following the diet. One individual alleged spending up to $20,000 on the diet and suffering from rashes, severe cramps, signs of metal poisoning, and in an extreme case, a miscarriage.

The controversy surrounding Zuckerbrot’s diet was picked up by The New York Times, which published an article about it. Hiring lawyer Lanny Davis, a former White House special counsel to President Bill Clinton, Zuckerbrot denied the accusations and argued that her plan did not lead to disordered eating. She claimed to have received only 50 health complaints out of over 176,000 sales of her snack bars and powders.

In response, Gellis Lande was unimpressed by Zuckerbrot’s defense. Zuckerbrot stated that she believes Gellis Lande thinks she is helping people, but that she considers the lifestyle promoted by Gellis Lande to be poisonous and anorexia-inducing. “But she’s a fashion blogger,” Zuckerbrot reportedly said to The New York Times.

Subsequently, Zuckerbrot filed two lawsuits against Gellis Lande, accusing her of launching a smear campaign intended to damage her brand. Both lawsuits are currently ongoing, with Gellis Lande denying the claims.

In 2020, the world experienced a much-needed awakening on racial issues. Yet, it was my beloved friend Jessica Mulroney who found herself waking up to some hard truths. In an almost 12-minute Instagram video, lifestyle blogger Sasha Exeter detailed their strained relationship that started when Mulroney took offense to Exeter’s call for her followers to use their voices to support good causes and fight against racial injustice towards the Black community.

Exeter claimed that Mulroney responded in a problematic manner, allegedly speaking negatively about her to other brands and sending her a written threat. Although Mulroney left an apology comment on Exeter’s video, she later sent a message that Exeter shared, saying “Liable [sic] suit. Good luck.”

Though Mulroney expressed remorse to her followers by announcing her plans to amplify Black voices by handing over her account to them and sharing their experiences, Canadian television network CTV decided to cancel her reality show I Do, Redo.

In response to the situation involving his wife Jessica, Ben Mulroney stepped down from his co-host role on CTV’s eTalk, expressing hope that a Black, Indigenous, or person of color would take over the position and use it to inspire, lead, and create change. However, Jessica Mulroney managed to keep her high-profile friendship, declaring in a now-deleted post, “Meghan and I are family. She is the kindest friend.

In 2020, the former Vine star and YouTube personality, famous for movies like “I DUCT TAPED My Brothers $400,000 Dollar TRUCK!” and his controversial exit from Disney Channel’s Bizaardvark, escalated to larger platforms.

On August 5, federal agents executed a search warrant at Paul’s home in Calabasas, California, confirming it was linked to an incident on May 30 at a mall in Scottsdale, Arizona. During a Black Lives Matter protest that concluded at the city’s Fashion Square Mall, Paul entered and stayed inside the shopping center after police ordered everyone to leave, according to authorities. However, Paul claimed on Twitter that while he was documenting the protest, neither he nor his group were involved in any looting or vandalism.

The reason for the FBI raid sparked much debate, mirroring Paul’s large YouTube following. Footage from a local ABC station showed several firearms being taken away by police, but Paul later deleted a video in which he stated that the search was “entirely related to the Arizona looting situation” and emphasized that it had nothing to do with him or his character.

Despite no charges being filed, Paul’s attorney told TopMob News that they would cooperate with the investigation.

Over a year since reconciling with fellow beauty influencer Tati Westbrook, the YouTube star has found himself embroiled in fresh disputes. First, in an indirect tweet about celebrities launching makeup lines in August 2020, he implied that Alicia Keys, known for her bare-faced look, had no place in the skincare industry. However, he later apologized, acknowledging that he is not the one to decide who can or cannot enter the makeup world.

But barely two weeks later, the host of Instant Influencer found himself in another predicament when he criticized Lauren Conrad’s new beauty line on Instagram. He ridiculed The Hills alum by showcasing empty packaging from a new cosmetics brand she had launched, implying that she was unqualified to run such a business.

However, Lauren Conrad gracefully admitted her mistake on Instagram, humorously attributing it to the woman who assembled the gifts (presumably the eyeliner expert herself). She explained that while testing if the samples would fit in the bags, she accidentally included an empty bag with the others and sent them out.

Fortunately for Conrad, no tears of mascara were shed. Charles later apologized, stating that the videos were intended to be humorous and sharing that “Lauren and I had a private conversation about the misunderstanding, and we are both fine.” Yet, it’s evident that he knew what he did.

In this instance, let me offer a rephrased version with a focus on clarity and natural flow:

In May 2020, the YouTuber and vlogger known as The Stauffer Life started a video by admitting that it was the hardest they had ever made publicly. It soon became clear that she wouldn’t be discussing her newborn routine or diet but instead revealing that she and her husband had placed their adopted 4-year-old son, Huxley, whom they had taken in from China in 2017, with his “new forever family.” The struggle to manage Huxley’s autism proved too challenging for them.

The response from their nearly one million subscribers was mainly outraged. Some questioned whether the couple, parents of four other children, were either naive or had exploited Huxley for views and donations only to abandon him when his care became difficult. As a result, they lost followers, and brand collaborators like Fabletics, Suave, and Danimals ended their partnerships with them. Even the Ohio’s Delaware County Sheriff’s Office announced that they were investigating Huxley’s well-being.

Authorities later declared in late June that they had closed the case without any charges, but Myka’s brand still remains inactive. Since then, she has not posted on YouTube or Instagram, issuing a lengthy statement apologizing for being “so naive when I started the adoption process” and stating that they were “not under any type of investigation.

After Hall announced in May 2020 that he and his TikTok companion were planning a cross-country road trip shortly, they received more than just travel tips. Hall’s Twitter followers were not pleased that the duo was disregarding stay-at-home advice to travel, prompting Hall to respond, “most states have lifted quarantine, the boys are driving across country avoiding contact with everyone… it’s not a big deal.”

However, they found themselves in deeper trouble when they were arrested five days later in Lee County, Texas. The sheriff’s office confirmed that Hall was charged with marijuana possession and Hossler with controlled substance possession. (Both managed to post bail the following day; TopMob News reached out for comment at the time, but Hall’s representative declined to comment while Hossler did not respond.)

In a June essay for People magazine, Hall admitted he was embarking on the path toward sobriety: “I’ve made mistakes in the past, but I am learning and growing… and I will make you proud. I promise.

In October 2019, YouTube personalities known as the Stokes Twins dressed up like robbers in black and called an Uber to pretend they had just robbed a bank. The Uber driver wasn’t part of the joke and refused to leave, causing a bystander to call the police. When the Irvine police arrived, they ordered the Uber driver out at gunpoint. He was later released when authorities determined he was not involved in the prank.

The Stokes brothers were warned about the dangers of their actions. Later that day, they repeated the prank on the University of California, Irvine campus, which resulted in their arrest. If convicted on false imprisonment and swatting charges, they could face up to four years in prison. Orange County D.A., Todd Spitzer, criticized their actions, stating that they could have caused serious injury or death.

In a 2020 news release, their lawyer claimed they were not guilty of any crimes. However, they pled guilty to lesser charges of misdemeanor false imprisonment and reporting false emergencies, receiving 160 hours of community service and one year of probation.

Dawson, known as the “King of YouTube” for his extensive videos and a following of 34 million, stepped down from his position in June 2020 after posting a controversial tweet criticizing the online beauty community. He accused them of being self-centered, manipulative, and vindictive. Specifically, he targeted James Charles, calling him out for being arrogant and power-hungry.

His fans were disappointed, as those living in glass houses should not throw stones. Within a few days, Dawson released a 20-minute video titled “Taking Accountability,” where he apologized for his past mistakes. He acknowledged using blackface, making racist remarks, joking about pedophilia, and sexualizing Willow Smith, who was only 11 at the time. He expressed regret for his actions and wished he had been punished for them.

As a result of these actions, YouTube suspended Dawson’s ability to monetize his three accounts. In 2021, he returned to creating content, expressing gratitude for being “cancelled” because it helped him change his life.

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2025-07-29 04:18