Phoebe Gates, the youngest daughter of Microsoft founder Bill Gates and an influencer, has become embroiled in controversy over 'privileged misconduct.' Criticism is growing after allegations arose that she requested free reviews from content creators to promote her startup.
Phoebe, a Stanford University graduate, recently co-launched the e-commerce platform 'Phia' with her former roommate Sophia Kiani. This app serves as a shopping assistant service that allows users to compare prices of new and used products at a glance, and it was officially launched on April 24.
Phoebe is reported to have raised an initial fund of $850,000 (approximately 1.1 billion won) without financial support from her billionaire father. She secured $100,000 from Soma Capital, $250,000 from Stanford's social enterprise grants, and $500,000 from angel investors.
Recently, renowned luxury content creator J.R. Jenkins revealed in his TikTok video that instead of requesting paid consultation for app promotion, Phoebe Gates' team asked him for a 'free review' without even subscribing.
Jenkins criticized, "My subscription is $5 a month or $30 a year, and they requested collaboration for free without even doing that," adding, "Given that there are also paid services worth thousands of dollars, such a request is unfair."
He also raised concerns about the quality of the Phia app. He mentioned, "Completely different products are recommended compared to search results, there is a lack of product condition information, and relying on descriptions rather than images is an issue," stating, "I downloaded it and tried it, but it was useless."
As the controversy spread online, criticisms emerged, stating, "It's ridiculous to ask for free reviews while thinking about who their parents are," "I'm so fed up with the irresponsible marketing of privileged kids," and "At the very least, if you’re going to request reviews, you should offer compensation."
Meanwhile, Bill Gates, Phoebe's father, 69, stated in a recent New York Times interview that he was worried his daughter might ask for money, noting, "If that were the case, it would have led to either reviewing the business or controlling my daughter, but fortunately, that was not the case." However, in contrast to the image of having built her career without privilege, this incident has revealed the stark reality of being a 'rich kid.'
Phoebe Gates' team has not made an official statement regarding the controversy.
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