B. Simone, whose real name is Braelyn Simone Greenfield, has ignited a controversy following an emotional confession about her financial difficulties that recently went viral. In a widely circulated clip, believed to be from a podcast recording, B. Simone tearfully detailed how her dwindling liquid assets have forced her to abandon high-end shopping at Bloomingdale’s for more budget-friendly options like H&M.
“We were in Bloomingdale’s yesterday, I’m like we have to go to H&M’s… And I notice it in me now, just nitpicking and I just don’t have it to spend the liquid. Yeah I am used to having liquid. I’m used to seeing a certain amount in my account,”
She said, visibly distressed about scrutinizing her spending—a habit she admitted was entirely foreign to her until now.
The internet’s reaction was swift and overwhelmingly critical, with many users slamming B. Simone’s remarks as out-of-touch. Critics highlighted that shopping at H&M is necessary for millions, not a hardship, especially amidst widespread economic challenges. One Twitter user remarked, “There are people out here broke for real and B Simone crying because she has to shop at H&M instead of Bloomingdale’s. Not one iota of self-awareness.” Another added, “The economy is in hell, and B. Simone said her struggle is… not shopping at Bloomingdale’s. This is why rich people need humility bootcamps.”
B. Simone’s current financial woes starkly contrast with her past successes. She rose to prominence through her appearances on MTV’s Wild ‘N Out and cultivated a massive online presence, boasting over 5 million Instagram followers. At her peak, her net worth was estimated to range between $1 million and $4 million. However, her career has been marred by controversies, significantly affecting her earnings.
A post from X.
In 2020, B. Simone faced intense criticism after dismissing traditional 9-to-5 jobs, a stance she later acknowledged caused her monthly income to plummet from $1 million to a mere $10,000. That same year, she was embroiled in a plagiarism scandal, accused of lifting content verbatim from smaller creators for her book, Baby Girl: Manifest the Life You Want. These incidents damaged her reputation and eroded her financial stability.
More recently, B. Simone’s public image took another hit when her best friend, Shekinah, aired grievances on a podcast. Shekinah revealed she had been grappling with financial hardship for over a year—unemployed, living with her parents, and having her car repossessed—without any support from B. Simone. This contrasted with B. Simone’s public generosity toward strangers online, leading many to question her priorities and authenticity. The revelation intensified perceptions of insensitivity, especially when paired with her emotional outburst over shopping at H&M.
B. Simone’s financial struggles reflect the precarious nature of influencer economics. Data reveals her YouTube earnings have been erratic, with some months yielding negative returns and others netting only modest sums, ranging from hundreds to a few thousand dollars. This inconsistency and losing brand partnerships due to her controversies have left her financial footing unstable. Once a symbol of social media success, she now faces the harsh realities of a career dependent on public favor and market trends.
