Influencer B. Simone Draws Criticism After Emotional Disclosure on Financial Struggles and Shopping Downgrade
Influencer and comedian B. Simone has become the subject of widespread discussion and derision following a recent podcast episode where she became visibly upset discussing her current financial situation and the need to adjust her spending habits. **The 35-year-old, who commands a significant online presence with nearly six million followers on Instagram, expressed distress over having to shop at H&M, a popular fast-fashion retailer, rather than luxury department stores like Bloomingdale’s.**
During the June 17 episode of her podcast, “Let’s Try This Again,” B. Simone confided in her friend, Shekinah Yon, about the challenges she’s facing in managing her money. With tears in her eyes, she spoke about the necessity of budgeting and scrutinizing every expense – a behavior she admitted was new for her.
“It’s just my finances,” she shared emotionally. “The budgeting. You see how I am. Nitpicking every little thing. I’ve never been like that.”
**The moment that particularly resonated and sparked online backlash was when she lamented the change in her shopping destinations.** Recounting a recent experience, she said, “We were in Bloomingdale’s yesterday. I’m like, ‘We have to go H&M.’ And I notice it in me. Just nitpicking.'”
B. Simone, whose legal name is Braelyn Simone Greenfield, clarified that her financial shift isn’t due to a complete lack of funds, but rather a change in the *liquidity* of her assets. **She explained that while she possesses wealth tied up in investments and belongings like jewelry, she doesn’t have the readily accessible cash flow she was accustomed to, primarily because she is heavily investing in her upcoming application, the LTTA APP.** “I got the money. [Just] not yet, it’s coming,” she stated. “I have it in assets. I have it in jewelry. It’s the liquid. I’m used to seeing a certain amount in my account.”
A clip of this emotional admission quickly circulated on social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), drawing widespread criticism. **Many users highlighted the perceived disconnect between her distress over shopping at H&M and the everyday reality for most people.**
Commenters pointed out the stark contrast between B. Simone’s concerns and the more severe financial hardships faced by others, including her friend who, during the same conversation, reportedly spoke about facing eviction and relying on food stamps. “Tearing up about having to shop at H&M when conversing with someone who, in the same conversation, talked about getting EVICTED and being on FOOD STAMPS,” one user wrote, questioning her perspective.
Others emphasized that shopping at affordable retailers like H&M is a norm for the majority and doesn’t diminish one’s worth or style. “Most of us shop at H&M. Most of us live check to check. That’s life,” one comment read, adding, “The real root is materialism.”
This isn’t the first time B. Simone has publicly discussed significant fluctuations in her income. In a 2023 appearance on the “Assets Over Liabilities” podcast, **she claimed her monthly earnings plummeted dramatically from $1 million to just $10,000 in the aftermath of being “canceled” on social media.**
Her public image has been impacted by past controversies. In 2020, the former “Wild ‘n Out” cast member faced backlash for stating she wouldn’t date a man with a traditional 9-to-5 job, preferring an entrepreneur. Later that year, she was hit with serious allegations of plagiarizing content from other bloggers for her self-help book, “Baby Girl: Manifest the Life You Want.” She publicly apologized, halted the book’s sales, and described the matter as becoming a “legal” issue.
The recent emotional podcast moment has reignited discussions about the realities of influencer finances, public perception, and the definition of financial hardship in different contexts.
