Binky Felstead's personal assistant contacted baker Reshmi Bennett, owner of the luxury cake business Anges de Sucre in London, requesting a free cake for Wilder's third birthday in exchange for an Instagram post. Reshmi Bennett, who has previously made headlines for her anger at influencers requesting free cakes, shared screenshots of the email exchange on Instagram, initially redacting Binky's name but later naming her. 4 million for the cake, referencing Binky's follower count.
Binky's representative stated the request was a standard contra enquiry from her PA, offering social media exposure for a cake. The representative said Binky was not directly involved in the email exchanges and is currently away on a family holiday. Binky's representative expressed disappointment that the private enquiry was shared publicly.
This was a standard contra enquiry from Binky's PA, offering social media exposure in exchange for a birthday cake.
This is not the first time Felstead's team has been accused of such requests. Illustrator Alice Peto claimed she was contacted by a member of Binky's team in 2021 requesting free wedding stationery in exchange for social media exposure. Alice Peto declined the request, stating she could not do it for free.
Friends of Binky told the Daily Mail she 'literally has no shame' in her eagerness to cash in. Binky is also facing criticism for selling used items on Vinted at high prices, such as worn cowboy boots for £40 and a stained M&S coat for £50. Binky's Vinted profile has one-star reviews and customer complaints about ignored messages and unfulfilled sales, despite her having previously promoted Vinted in a paid partnership on Instagram.
Binky was not directly involved in these email exchanges, and is currently away on a family holiday.
It remains unclear whether Binky Felstead was personally aware of or approved the requests for free items from her team, or how many other small businesses have been approached by her team for similar contra deals. The exact response from Binky or her team to the allegations about high Vinted prices has not been disclosed, and it is unknown whether her team has changed its policy on requesting free items after the public backlash.
We completely understand that this type of collaboration is not for everyone and respect the decision to decline.
It is, however, disappointing to see a private and friendly enquiry shared publicly, and contra deals like this are widely used within this industry and usually mutually beneficial.
Yellow train cake! We would also be interested in collaborating [redacted] who has 1.4million Instagram followers.
Thanks for your message. Would you be interested in collaborating on the cake? As in the cake would be gifted in exchange for a story on [redacted]'s Instagram?
Thank you so much for your interest in assisting with the illustration for Binky and Max’s wedding invites.
The wedding is in Greece and we would be looking for three invitations plus menus, table names and place names. The couple would be looking for the design free of charge in exchange for exposure on their social media accounts.
Thanks so much, I’ve been illustrating for 20 years and I’m one of the in-house illustrators for [redacted], so sadly I just can’t do it for free. What fun though, I bet you find someone brilliant. Very best, Alice.
She literally has no shame.