Draya Michele appears to have promoted the mistaken product on the mistaken time.
The actress is going through backlash after selling air purifiers amid the continued wildfires in Los Angeles.
The Basketball Wives LA star, 39, shared a video on Instagram on Saturday, January 11, showcasing a Sereniby air air purifier whereas town battles the devastating fires.
The submit, which featured Michele unboxing and organising the air purifier together with her 8-year-old son, Jru Scandrick, within the background, drew blended reactions from her followers.
“While the unimaginable is going on with the fires in LA … air high quality is so poor, poisonous even,” Michele wrote within the caption.
“I’m utilizing the @sereniby_official air air purifier to make sure that my children and pets are inhaling recent, double filtered air.” She additionally provided a reduction code for $200 off the product.
“There’s no value on peace of thoughts however having it’s extra useful than most worldly issues,” Michele added.
The submit garnered criticism, main Michele to restrict the feedback on her submit.
In response to the controversy, Sereniby informed PEOPLE that Michele was “not compensated for her submit.”
“She and her crew contacted us as a result of she genuinely makes use of the product and believed it may assist others coping with the extreme air high quality in Los Angeles,” the corporate defined.
“Together, we explored methods to make our air purifier as inexpensive as doable throughout this tough time. We’re a small, family-run startup that solely launched just a few months in the past, and we’re extremely grateful for her real assist.”
Sereniby additional acknowledged, “Like so many others, we really feel powerless in opposition to the devastation attributable to the L.A. fires, however we wish to assist in no matter small manner we will.”
“We’re donating 10% of our January income to the American Red Cross, and we acknowledge there are numerous pressing wants on this disaster. If monetary help affording an air air purifier can assist lighten somebody’s burden, we encourage these in L.A. to succeed in out to us instantly — we’ll proceed doing all the pieces we will to assist the group throughout this tough time.”
Despite the corporate’s clarification, some followers criticized Michele’s timing and strategy.
One consumer commented, “Draya utilizing the L.A. fires to advertise an air air purifier on her Instagram. Like she by no means does something proper. Tone deaf.”
Another remarked, “At the least she could possibly be giving them away. But promoting a product at a time like that is positive proof of creamed corn for brains.”
