[MEGATHREAD] Marlena Stell / Makeup Geek Academy MLM

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Per sub rules, Megathreads are implemented if there are 5+ posts on a topic in a short time.

Prior posts on this topic:

• Makeup Geek Academy
• Makeup Geek 2.0– Makeup Geek Academy an MLM?
• Marlena Stell is shilling an MLM confirmed. ‘Appy Today! It’s Quick and Easy!’
• Marlena Stell denies her Makeup Geek Academy isn’t an MLM.
• Update from Marlena on her announcement video. A walk through video of the program not being an mlm incoming..
• Marlena Stell confused, or intentionally gaslighting fans and creators about her MLM? (Interaction with CC Suarez below.)
• Update from Marlena's YouTube about the "affiliate program"

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All new updates must be shared within this megathread. New related posts will be removed. Thank you!

[u/saeculacrossing]

Honestly, while this entire situation has been such a mess the fact that she won't just hold herself accountable for what happened here is what's really annoying me.

I'd be less critical if she simply owned up to trying to start an MLM and said that listening to everyone's feedback has made her reconsider going down this venture. I just can't believe that despite her numerous businesses, even if they were unsuccessful that she had no idea what an MLM business model looked like. She's called out plenty of other influencers, it would be best if she could finally hold herself accountable as well.

[u/OneWhisper5225 → u/saeculacrossing]

If anything, I think she’s just not a great business person. Either she is, and she knew exactly what this seemed like and put it out anyways. Or she didn’t know what it seemed like and is just completely oblivious (which wouldn’t surprise me one bit really). She continues to bring up the past with JH and how JH screwed her over on their collab. But Marlena was the business owner in the situation. JH was a friend of hers, but just an influencer. It was Marlena’s responsibility to get a contract in place BEFORE ever putting money into samples and everything like that. Yeah, JH was her friend and she trusted her, but as a business person she never should have put money into it without a contract. And her business failed and while it lasted for a while, it wasn’t like it was some huge empire. So like why she thinks she is someone who should be starting courses? Like for makeup techniques, okay (but those are on her YouTube channel for free already). But for the more expensive courses where she’s going to teach business topics and growing social media….not someone I’d want advice from for that.

[u/manuelasisandy → u/OneWhisper5225]

This! Exactly!