Overview
- Kacie Margis posted this week on Threads that Phoebe Gates tried to pay less than her $250 listed rate, sharing a screenshot that calls Phia a "scrappy startup" with a "super limited" budget.
- Margis says Gates found her via Collabstr, a marketplace where creators post rates and brands book jobs, but reached out by Instagram message instead of using the platform.
- The New York Post, Hindustan Times, and The Indian Express covered the claims and each noted the screenshot and messages have not been independently verified.
- Gates has not publicly responded to this specific allegation, and she recently told a Yahoo Finance podcast she declined family money to keep Phia separate from her last name.
- Online backlash has grown with accusations of underpaying creators, a reaction that could push startups to honor posted rates and rely more on transparent, on-platform bookings.