"Let Them Eat Cake" Haleyybaylee Controversy

Overview

"Let Them Eat Cake" Haleyybaylee Controversy refers to a 2024 controversy surrounding TikTok influencer Haleyybaylee (Haleyy Baylee, @haleyybaylee) that was sparked after she posted a video from the Met Gala red carpet using the TikTok sound Let Them Eat Cake, which is indicative of wealth and commonly associated with Marie Antoinette (the last queen of France). After likening herself to Antoinette via the sound, TikTokers felt like she was bragging about being rich and a cancelation campaign surfaced.

Background

On May 7th, 2024, TikToker^[1] @haleyybaylee posted a video of herself before the 2024 Met Gala wearing an elaborate dress with flower details. She used a TikTok sound that said, "Let them eat cake," from the 2006 film Marie Antoinette about the late queen of France. Over three days, the video gained roughly 21.5 million plays and 3.6 million likes (shown below).

Online Reaction

In the following days, multiple people reacted negatively toward @haleyybaylee's video, such as X^[2] user @JoshuaPHilll on May 7th, 2024, who reposted it, writing, "An influencer straight up making a 'let them eat cake' video at the met gala last night. No self awareness at all. None." The post received over 19,000 likes in three days (shown below).

An influencer straight up making a “let them eat cake” video at the met gala last night. No self awareness at all. None. pic.twitter.com/39rYMZqzLe

— Read Let This Radicalize You (@JoshuaPHilll) May 7, 2024

Viral reactions also ensued on TikTok via duets and stitches. For instance, on May 8th, TikToker^[3] @thewokemama posted a video on the topic, receiving roughly 1.1 million plays and 33,100 likes in two days (shown below, left).

Also on May 8th, 2024, TikToker^[4] @heyjuanabad posted a reaction video, saying, "Who told you that was a good idea?" Like @thewokemama, @heyjuanabad highlighted that one ticket to the Met Gala cost $75,000. Over two days, his video received roughly 2 million plays and 143,200 likes (shown below, right).

Others labeled Haleyybaylee tone-deaf for showing her wealth amid the 2024 Israel-Hamas Conflict, such as TikToker^[5] @zezvaz on May 9th, 2024, who greenscreened Haleyybaylee into Gaza rubble, writing, "WHAT WE REALLY SAW," gaining over 422,400 plays and 76,500 likes in a day (shown below).

Various Reactions

Search Interest

Unavailable.

External References