Welcome to FTW Explains: a guide to catching up on stuff happening on the internet.
It’s been awhile since we’ve had a good influencer beef, but not to worry, New York Times food columnist Alison Roman and celebrity personality Chrissy Teigen have exchanged some words that are driving a lot of conversation on the internet.
On Friday night, Teigen went on Twitter to respond to some pretty thoughtless comments that columnist Roman made in an interview with New Consumer magazine. And because this is the internet, people are of course taking sides.
If you’re confused about what’s going on, For The Win is here to fill you in.
First of all who is Alison Roman?
If you’re not a regular reader of the New York Times food section, you might not know the name, but Alison Roman is a well-known columnist who frequently writes recipes for the site. She also has a best selling cookbook and a big Instagram following. She is a popular food personality that has a strong and devoted following.
You already know who Chrissy Teigen is, but if you aren’t aware, she also has a hugely popular cookbook and a line of cookware at Target, plus a very active YouTube channel where she posts recipes and such.
So, what did Roman actually say?
Early Friday, Roman gave a, shall we say, freewheeling interview to New Consumer magazine where she took unfortunate shots Japanese lifestyle guru Marie Kondo and Teigen.
She first slammed Kondo for having her own product line.
Like the idea that when Marie Kondo decided to capitalize on her fame and make stuff that you can buy, that is completely antithetical to everything she’s ever taught you… I’m like, damn, bitch, you fucking just sold out immediately! Someone’s like “you should make stuff,” and she’s like, “okay, slap my name on it, I don’t give a [expletive]!”
Roman then went after Teigen.
Like, what Chrissy Teigen has done is so crazy to me. She had a successful cookbook. And then it was like: Boom, line at Target. Boom, now she has an Instagram page that has over a million followers where it’s just, like, people running a content farm for her. That horrifies me and it’s not something that I ever want to do. I don’t aspire to that.
Yikes, that sounds pretty harsh.
Yeah, that’s really not cool, considering that Kondo and Teigen are both Asian women who are succeeding in spaces that have long been dominated by white women. One of the reasons Roman’s comments are causing so much outrage is because Roman herself seems to be tone deaf to her own privilege.
Plus, Roman also has a line of cookware coming out with the startup Material, and has done partnerships with J.Crew and Madewell. In the interview, she alludes to also having a team help her with her brand. These are all things she’s criticizing Teigen and Kondo for, which feels pretty hypocritical.
Has Teigen responded?
She has. Late Friday night, Teigen posted a lengthy a Twitter thread saying she was hurt by Roman’s comments, and that not only has she been a fan of Roman’s for a long time, but that she was actually attached to executive produce a TV show starring Roman.
I didn't "sell out" by making my dreams come true. To have a cookware line, to get to be a part of that process start to finish, to see something go from sketch to in my hands, I love that.
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) May 8, 2020
I don't think I've ever been so bummed out by the words of a fellow food-lover. I just had no idea I was perceived that way, by her especially. And Marie, too. Marie is awesome.
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) May 8, 2020
Mostly, Teigen defended the work she put into her Cravings line, calling it a labor of love.
there are many days I cry very hard because cravings, the site, is our baby we love to pump content onto. we do this work ourselves, and there is NO monetary gain yet. it is just work work work and the reward is you liking it. so to be called a sellout….hooooo it hurts
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) May 8, 2020
Has Roman apologized yet?
Kind of. The interview has been circulating all day, but at first Roman tried to play victim card.
Just wishing I had someone to hold my hand during baby’s first internet backlash 😪
— alison roman (@alisoneroman) May 8, 2020
Later, after Teigen basically put her on blast, she posted a more formal apology but doesn’t really seem to understand why what she said was wrong.
Being a woman who takes down other women is absolutely not my thing and don’t think it’s yours, either (I obviously failed to effectively communicate that). I hope we can meet one day, I think we’d probably get along.
— alison roman (@alisoneroman) May 9, 2020
There seems to be something deeper simmering here
There is. It’s not clear why Roman went after two prominent Asian personalities, while leaving Goop and the likes of Martha Stewart alone. This dust up between the two has stared a conversation about who gets to make money off of their food.
Add that to the broader frustration that white people have no problem capitalizing on our cultures, foods, traditions, dress only to turn around and criticize POC for essentially getting paid?
It's frustrating! It's angering.
— Mallory Yu (@mallory_yu) May 8, 2020
Roman is a very popular columnist, but she’s also been criticized for appropriating food she has no claim too.
maybe dont come after asian women for "selling out" after building your career off of adapting the food of other cultures into more "palatable" versions that you can sell, idk
— jonny sun (@jonnysun) May 8, 2020
So who’s winning the beef?
Right now, it’s Teigen. She’s the much bigger name and it’s clear that Roman took shots she really didn’t need to be taking.
