When a small business owner said ‘no’ to a social media personality’s demands—and the internet cheered

Sometimes the best response to a bully is simply standing your ground, and that’s exactly what happened when a French pastry chef in Arizona decided she’d had enough of a social media personality’s demands.

The story that’s captured attention worldwide isn’t just about pastries and social media drama—it’s about integrity, quality craftsmanship, and what happens when someone finally stands up to entitled behaviour.

For anyone who’s ever wondered felt frustrated by flashy social media culture overriding genuine quality, this tale has a surprisingly satisfying ending.

When ‘collaboration’ becomes coercion

Jenna Leurquin owns JL Patisserie, a French bakery that’s earned serious recognition—including being a James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Bakery in 2023.

The bakery is celebrated for its French technique and was recently awarded Best Pastries by Phoenix New Times. These aren’t your average corner-shop treats—we’re talking about sourdough starter that takes six months to create, flour imported from Europe, and pistachio paste imported from Italy.

So when social media personality Aurora Griffo, who posts reviews under the name ‘Glamorama’ on social media, reached out requesting a collaboration, Leurquin initially handled it professionally.

The bakery respectfully declined because they didn’t have the budget for it, but then Griffo refused to accept no for an answer. Jenne explained that she allegedly ‘ tried to blackmail us by saying if we offered the food for free, she would write a good review about us.’

The screenshots Leurquin later shared revealed the full picture.

Griffo’s message stated: ‘When it’s a collaboration, I will still do the honest review and highlight/focus on what I enjoyed and be softer/quicker on my words with what I may not like as much. If the experience is terrible, I won’t post anything for the kindness of the hospitality. The meal will need to be comped, including the gratuity.’

When Leurquin said she’d think about it, Griffo showed up the next day anyway—despite no agreement being in place.

The review that backfired spectacularly

Leurquin says her team tried to accommodate the content creator during the visit, pouring her a complimentary shot of espresso and turning down the music at the bakery, but sensed a negative tone from her. Their instincts proved right.

On 7 October, Griffo posted her review, declaring: ‘I do not mind spending 10 dollars on a pastry if they are really good, but you cannot use fake-a** ingredients. That pistachio colour is about as natural as my b****, a** and waistline.’ She also criticised the coffee as ‘super sour and acidic’ and said the quiche had a ‘paper-thin’ crust.

Initially, the review barely registered—after 48 hours, Griffo’s video had only around 8,000 likes.

But Leurquin had seen enough. As a skilled baker who takes pride in her craft, she wasn’t about to let false claims about her ingredients go unchallenged.

A masterclass in standing your ground

On the 9th of October, Leurquin responded with a video that went on to reach more than 60 million views. Without naming Griffo directly, she calmly laid out exactly what had happened, supported by screenshots of the messages.

‘So we totally respect a bad review,’ Leurquin said. ‘But we don’t like lying and bullying.’ She then methodically addressed each criticism, showing viewers the high-quality imported ingredients and explaining the careful processes behind each item.

Leurquin took viewers on a tour of her bakery, demonstrating the care and expertise that go into every pastry.

What made Leurquin’s response so effective was that she stuck to facts, not emotions; provided evidence to back up her claims; focused on defending her craft and team rather than attacking personally; maintained professionalism throughout; and let the quality of her work speak for itself.

The internet chose quality over influence

The public response was swift and decisive. JL Patisserie’s sales skyrocketed as people lined up around the block to show support, and customers flooded their page with glowing reviews.

The bakery often sells out of its goods, but in recent days, Leurquin said, ‘we sold out so quick,’ with the pistachio pastry that Griffo had criticised becoming ‘by far’ the bestseller.

Meanwhile, Griffo received intense backlash online, including hate comments and threats, and later said she had to temporarily leave her home for safety reasons. She eventually returned to social media to respond, admitting, ‘Someone finally stood up to me. I’ve got to say, kudos—for real. I respect that,’ though she continued to deny lying about her review.

She later apologised and deleted her other posts. Even Keith Lee, one of social media’s most respected food personalities, weighed in on the situation, lending credibility to discussions about reviewer ethics.

What this means for everyday consumers

This incident highlights a concerning trend where some social media influencers expect special treatment in exchange for favourable coverage. For consumers, especially those who rely on reviews to make dining decisions, it raises important questions about authenticity.

As Leurquin put it: ‘My message was to stand up against this type of behaviour and the danger of what influencing can mean on social media.’

When reviewers admit they’ll be ‘softer’ on criticism in exchange for free meals, how can we trust their opinions?

The power of authentic responses

What’s refreshing about this story is how it demonstrates that authenticity still matters to people. Leurquin didn’t hire a PR firm or craft a carefully worded corporate response.

She simply showed her work, explained her standards and let people judge for themselves.

The patisserie’s social media pages have been flooded with new followers and supportive messages, with Leurquin now catching up on responses. It’s a reminder that when you’re genuinely proud of what you create, that passion comes through clearly.

For small business owners, this incident offers a valuable lesson: don’t be afraid to politely but firmly stand up for your standards. Quality speaks for itself, and customers can usually tell the difference between authentic craft and flashy marketing.

Supporting businesses that deserve it

The happy ending to this tale is that good ingredients, skilled craftsmanship and honest business practices won out over social media manipulation.

JL Patisserie is now thriving, with increased recognition for the quality they’ve been delivering all along.

It’s worth remembering that behind every small business are real people who’ve invested their time, money and passion into creating something worthwhile. When we support businesses based on genuine quality rather than social media hype, we’re investing in craftsmanship and authenticity.

The next time you’re choosing where to spend your money, remember this story.

Sometimes the best recommendation isn’t from a social media personality with millions of followers—it’s from the quality of ingredients, the skill of the craftspeople and the integrity of how they run their business.

Key Takeaways

• French pastry chef Jenna Leurquin, owner of JL Patisserie in Arizona, stood her ground after social media personality Aurora Griffo demanded free food in exchange for a positive review.
• After receiving an unfair review, Leurquin calmly responded with facts and transparency, showing proof of her bakery’s high-quality ingredients and craftsmanship.
• Her video reached more than 60 million views, earning public support and boosting sales as customers lined up to show appreciation for her honesty.
• The incident reignited discussions about internet culture, reviewer ethics and the importance of integrity, authenticity and respect in small business interactions.

What do you think about social media personalities and their impact on small businesses? Have you ever had a favourite local business that you felt deserved more recognition?

Share your thoughts below—we’d love to hear about the quality businesses in your area that are worth supporting.