The Disastrous Tarte Brandtrips

[@Gabngaff]

Thanks for reiterating that point! They love to market these brand trips as “vacations”. Its very much a business transaction. They expect you to post content. That is a job. And the lines get blurred when people just say “be grateful for a free trip”. Its much more nuanced.

[@Baby.Puss.In.Boots.]

Tarte has such a long history of racism I don't get why anyone would work with the brand still

[@angelycaviolet]

If I was the brand owner I would be so meticulous about making everything as even as possible like everyone staying in a hotel with all the same rooms with all the same gifts but also it would be hilarious to put the most privileged influencers in the smallest rooms to see if they would make videos and complain.

[@Fionapplenjoyer]

Brand trips was the worst branch of capitalism

[@debbir1575]

Ohhh I can't wait for the illuminaughti one. Tarte has quite the poor reputation. I'm not even a makeup person and I knew about their poor shade range. Thanks for another great breakdown and your insights.

[@MikasRhetoric]

Thank you for your continued support!!

[@tinyprettymoon]

I watched Jessi Smiles and Lily Marston’s podcast episode about this the other day, they went into the entire timeline. And I wanna mention, one of their theories about the race was that they thought these influencers wouldn’t care about the race itself so they wouldn’t even realize that the qualifiers wasn’t the actual race. Obviously I have no idea if that’s what tarte thought but if it is the truth, or at least partial truth, they really thought these people would be that stupid to not realize they’re being treated differently

[@sassywasthebestcat]

Can’t wait to see how this turns out! - Luxeria with her fancy binoculars

[@MikasRhetoric]

This one is messy but kind of a fun messy at times

[@Lilbosleeps]

I coughed up my water at this comment and instinctively read it as Luxeria

[@HellsFurby]

I read this in her voice! Then all I could think of is Roly going “a dead body” 💀

[@cupofcait]

GOUT!

[@erniefofernie]

She’s got a degree!

[@wyldstallyns__]

i hope i don’t come off as annoying. i’m a huge formula 1 fan, so i wanted to explain how race weekends work, and why it would be a big deal to go home before the sunday. friday is not super important or exciting for fans. saturday has a qualifying session which decides the race order, but some fans don’t watch it since it’s not intergral. sunday is the big event with the race. this is where celebrities visiting are shown off sometimes (which is sus because why would the only bipoc creator have to leave before the ppl are shown off at the race?) f1 is mostly a european sport, but they have the miami, texas, and los vegas races. indianapolis was probably an indy 500 race. sorry for such a long comment. i just wanted to share some of my expertise to explain why it would be a big deal for bipoc people to be left out of the race. f1 is also a predominantly white dominated, other than drivers like lewis hamilton, alex albon, and yuki tsunoda. most drivers are white europeans, and there’s definitely a conversation to be had about that too, and how it could relate for a bipoc person to be treated lesser at the race too.

[@MikasRhetoric]

I really appreciate the clarification

[@jas9474]

Honestly the fact that stuff like this is STILL going on is so sad

[@miguelenriquebeltre8882]

I love that in this corner of the internet, I am not alone in thinking that it’s an act of self-respect to not settle for opaque inequality and MLM like exploitation

[@migoreng7789]

it's wild to me how influencers are automatically called entitled whenever they speak up on brands maybe fucking up. you're for real siding with a large beauty brand that has a history of not being great... brand trips are work, like i don't think it's that easy to relax when you also have to Make Content. so it's not a free vacation. some more og beauty youtubers like Jen Luv have been speaking up lately on the topic. when you think about it, Tarte focuses on tiktokers also because idk Manny or Nikki can afford a trip like that on their own, without having to sing NDA and making ads for the brand. while those young, newer beauty tiktokers ~feel special~ and Tarte kinda takes advantage of their inexperience🤔

[@morganwentworth2041]

I feel like given how much business trips paid for by the company have gone down in the last decade, TikTok/IG is singlehandedly keeping stupid expensive lodgings in business

[@MikasRhetoric]

It is like a business trip that is supposed to make regular people feel bad about their life

[@AKbaby89]

Wait, if these trips are basically work trips, and the influencers are being paid via the trip instead of money for their work(content posted for the trip) wouldnt the influencers have to claim these trips on their taxes as income??

[@FrancisFabricates]

Would love to see a follow up since a lot has happened since you made this (I totally get that it was hell to make this I don’t mean a ‘oh you are behind’ because that happens when you make videos that you have to edit properly and I appreciate the hard work you put into it). I have seen the women who got signed onto it last minute being horrible about the girl who didn’t go. Tarte definitely supported bullying her without a doubt

[@MikasRhetoric]

I would have to just talk about it on stream or something this whole thing had way too many people I never heard of involved

[@KatwinKennedy]

“People miscontruting” new phrase just dropped. Thanks. Will be using it for everything now.

[@TeaghanYoung]

Omgggg i was literally just about to email and suggest you talk about iilluminaughtii!!!!! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts👀

[@MikasRhetoric]

I have been working on the video longer than I want to admit

[@RM-um9xx]

​@@MikasRhetoric literally don't know what's going on with that situation but you're the one I trust to tell us about it lol

[@nite8425]

The XO XO Gossip Girl part sent me 😂

[@sunrise1987]

I’m so happy to see your take on this. This whole thing is tooooo much.

[@miguelenriquebeltre8882]

Also, lmfaooo the thumbnail is iconic!!! I really can’t with Mika. The sass just comes from every side

[@juno3281]

when it comes to race relations, as a company, you gotta be equitable. i think what most people don’t understand is, as a poc, especially a black person, if you’re being treated differently, 9/10 times it’s gonna be because of your race. it’s rare when it’s not, so in this situation i can see why bria immediately assumed she was being discriminated against. that’s just how it always is. i think she was justified in how she felt, but she went about it in an interesting way. it came off dumb and entitled, so people who don’t experience racism are gonna focus on that. i personally don’t think it was a race issue, they should’ve focused on equity to begin with, but i really don’t think it was intentional. it sounds like they just didn’t prepare well. and the fact that bigger creators had bigger rooms makes sense, your boss isn’t about to pay you more than their most valuable employee. i get it must be a hard pill to swallow, but it’s y’all’s job… if it’s truly too much then do something else for a living. it’s okay to feel offended, that’s human, but maybe keep it to yourself. for your own convenience. i’m starting to wonder if these people have ever even had real full time jobs. this is capitalism you will not be prioritized over making money 💀 most of us learn that when we start working lmao

[@basil_bagel]

I appreciate all the work you put into these videos! They are always so fun to watch and really educational, thank you again!

[@webweaver222]

the way i got out my seat when you said that the illuminaughtii vid is coming soon- i can't wait for the gag mika omg

[@MikasRhetoric]

Yes it is just taking forever because every time I think I am done something else happens

[@ooctaviaa]

F1 races in different cities for each race, so they had an Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and then there are 20 some races, each in a different places, like Miami and Monaco. They use the streets in that city to race instead of one of the tracks, so they build the track around city infrastructure. So they were in Miami when this happened and are somewhere else now!

[@R1ngbanana]

I had no idea this was going on! Thanks for this

[@lilliputianhitcher3808]

the turks and caicos trip was about 1-2 weeks before the formula 1 trip in florida

[@fx4426m]

t&c happened before the f1 trip in miami. the miami trip was really what had this shit burning down 😭😭

[@MikasRhetoric]

I really had trouble with the timeline of this one

[@fx4426m]

@@MikasRhetoric i don’t blame you. everything exploded at once

[@ames-inthe-grass]

fab socialism made a great vid about this, she touches on the black solidarity part among other things

[@knowjusticeknowpeace15]

Ugghhh this is soooo giving 2015 vibes!! (Except I Don’t Know Who Any Of The “Players” Are Anymore) 🤣🤣 ❤️❤️ It was the best of times it was the worst of times.

[@meaganblack1529]

Mika: is wearing glasses. also Mika: I have no visible disabilities. Lol. I know that this mindset is very common these days, but if you need glasses, you have a disability that you need assistive technology to live with. Glasses are just so common and so (much more) accessible these days; still, they'll write it on your driver's license that you have to wear them, if your vision poor enough.

[@meaganblack1529]

Love the video! And very excited for the illuminaughti one.

[@MikasRhetoric]

I said that because I have chronic breathing issues but I didn’t even think of the problems with my vision

[@meaniepanini3198]

I’m excited for ur Illuminaughtii vid bc I have no idea what’s going on and I’m not gonna watch the 200 update /response vids coming out lol thanks for ur sacrifice 🫡

[@bojomoonlight]

every time you cover something i have no idea about without fail it’s something from tiktok and it makes me glad i do not have it

[@MikasRhetoric]

That makes sense

[@amanda.burkey]

I saw a tik toker earlier talking about Chrissy Tiegan and her problematic behavior, would LOVE to see your viewpoints ETA- I should have said I would love a DEEP DIVE, long format video on her lol

[@MikasRhetoric]

Maybe yeah I have seen stuff about her in the past

[@shaleamontanez4591]

She likes to promote herself as inclusive and kind etc but she's literally a bully on twitter

[@melowlw8638]

​​​​@@shaleamontanez4591 didnt she like.. tell someone to off themself too?? or smth very similar

[@mayqueennyan2]

Was waiting for this!!! Excited to watch!!! 💖

[@yippeebaby]

ayo mika upload‼️‼️‼️ *immediately curls up w blankie & bev* (much love to u mika you are my fav youtube gal & i hope you're doing well🫶)

[@MikasRhetoric]

I am doing well thanks for asking!

[@brittnayyyd444]

I enjoy your content so much! You’re always so well spoken and crack me up!! ❤❤ thank you for your hard work!🎉❤

[@HEARTDRAIN]

I’m SO excited to watch this

[@MikasRhetoric]

I'm excited that you are here!!

[@HEARTDRAIN]

@@MikasRhetoric It was a banger video as usual B)

[@AKbaby89]

Wait im confused why would they even invite her if shes not even gonna be there for the race which is the point of the trip? Like what was even their reason for her leaving before everyone else? And why even invite people in the first place if you dont want them there for the actual event? I can really only think of one reason a brand would do that, and id really hope after the og shape tape BS, tarte wouldnt do some bs like invite someone to make them seem inclusive, but i just cant think of why else theyd do some crap like this

[@valolafson6035]

The only thing I could think of, is that then they couldn't complain the brand didn't invite them.

[@elmfao1824]

I think the skepticism about potential racial mistreatment is largely due to the lack of transparency. Some companies are slow to the changing landscape where consumers expect more information from them. The last few years people have been asking so many additional questions. Is it cruelty free? Where are the ingredients sourced? What preservatives are used? How well are the factory workers paid? Is the packaging sustainable? What influencers are sponsored and how much are they paid? Brand like Morphe (the alleged private labelling thing) and Tarte are not doing well at keeping up with this demand. If companies directly say "Yes, you will receive unequal treatment due to follower count", it seems more upfront than just pretending audience size doesn't matter. We all know it matters, so just say it explicitly. When it's left unsaid, then there is room for assumptions and speculation. Obviously, capitalism is a prison so there is no guarantee that it is true honesty, but it at least discloses some part of the decision making.

[@Gabngaff]

They always invited Teala to be “inclusive”. Shes the one poc and shes still the same size as all of them.🤣🤣no shade to her but that always made me side eye🙄

[@BIGHEVER]

Full shade to her. I feel like she knows that’s what they bring her for but doesn’t care. And I can kinda understand from her point because we get left out of thing like brand trip often. But even as a black woman she’s still light skin and super duper thin. Which I’m not making fun of her weight, because I know that’s sensitive for her. But that goes to show how from afar you couldn’t even tell she’s not just a tanned white woman.

[@Gabngaff]

@@BIGHEVER absolutely! I say no shade so people know Im not being malicious. But youre 100% correct. She was the person theyd sprinkle in for ✨diversity✨. And for a while I ate it up. Until I realized they’re literally doing the bare minimum. And yea its basically because she was the same size but fill their quota for representation.

[@sepulchrums]

Your glasses are so cute!!!!!

[@ri9578]

the problem with fannita is she made multiple videos dissing bria and tarte had her basically in a hotel room. she don’t care about solidarity. tarte don’t even carry her shade of concealer

[@AKbaby89]

The race trip was right after turks and Caicos, in Florida.

[@fishtick]

OMG not oom moots being cited in a Mikasa rhetoric video!!!! i love Jessica ❤ (midwestbimbo)

[@vibenic]

I believe Turks and Caicos was first then F1 in Miami or something like that later!!

[@bojomoonlight]

the Tarte CEO gives me the ick.

[@itssydvicious]

Yessss love hearing about the brand tip drama… but just the tip 🙃 heheheh

[@MikasRhetoric]

OH NO LMFAOO

[@KimandKamJam]

The whole Illiminaughti thing makes me sad. 😢

[@emilyhumpert6349]

can't wait to watch🤩

[@heylookitsmegananne]

BESTIE NOT SHAKESPEARE

[@MikasRhetoric]

I have an English degree so I am allowed to say it

[@tomato3176]

I love you mika. YOur videos are so awesome. Love

[@char9945]

Love your videos Mika- Can you turn your phone on Do not disturb when you film because I can always hear it vibrating and it’s really distracting! 16:52

[@MikasRhetoric]

It usually is, but I had to keep it on that time because of something going on

[@knowjusticeknowpeace15]

14:11 💯🙌🔥 Let’s get a little reality check gorls.

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

I wish I'd had a twitter or IG bc it would've been great to make a brand trip report that drops in real stats along the way as remorselessly + bluntly as Nick di Ramio or Mika herself. EDIT: bc aggro AI over-correcting my typing. Grrr. Read Brian Christenson's Most Human Human, y'all!

[@alisha6341]

17:54 shart tarte brand trip

[@naikahara]

I'm kinda late for this one, oops. I was really hoping that the whole "poc and not-super skinny creators being excluded and mistreated during brand trips" had been left in the past, I was also hoping that brand trips in general had ended after the pandemic tbh, but apparently not only are they still a thing but they also got worse. I find it interesting that you mentioned that these trips are work and not just a free vacation, cause I feel like the power that the brand has on the people going wasn't usually talked about back in the old scandals unless it was in reference to something like the dote girls thing, where the brand was at the center of the whole thing. Most of the time people would call out influencers going on the trip for being mean or entitled or whatever but they would not mention that the organizers created a spsce and a culture that fomented that attitude (for example I think back when the dote thing was happening there was talks of brand trips having an unofficial hierarchy, with the girls who are the most popular on sm, go to the same trips every year so they know each other, and get more privileges from the brand being at the top. I might be wrong about this one, but wasn't shane dawson's sister in law pressured by other girls to get plastic surgery in one of these trips in order to fit in?). I saw another comment comparing it to an MLM and it just clicks so well.

[@tubatubatu]

11:15 what does that mean?

[@MikasRhetoric]

It means that they’re mean to each other but pretend to be friends. Sororities are this weird thing that is mostly in universities in the US

[@longlivebeans]

Idk how anyone is surprised after that shape tape bullshit back in the day. Tarte is the OG racist brand.

[@soderotys1234]

Btw NASCAR is in Tennessee which I think is what you’re thinking of. F1 is a different thing but I don’t know enough to explain

[@MikasRhetoric]

YES THAT IS MY CONFUSION

[@KaylaDunDunDunIt]

“Idk go watch tea spill” Mika are you okay and do you need to hire more help

[@MikasRhetoric]

I can’t afford more help so no

[@talynhastime9343]

I don’t really feel bad for the influencers, nor do I feel bad for the brands that waste their money on the influencers. Influencers should realize not everything is truly free, and brands should choose people that actually like and use their brands before wasting money on them. I really couldn’t care less if an influencer didn’t have the greatest time on a brand trip, barring assault, racism, ableism, etc. In many lines of work you are given the opportunity to travel to exotic locales while also expected to work. That’s always been a thing…

[@LunaWitcherArt]

I am unfortunately too illiterate to understand the ending tiktok and it pains me

[@cassiewilliams7654]

because of you i now sing “squiiiish gaaang is presentttt” every day when i make my bed. the first time it kinda just slipped out, but now it is literally part of the ritual. the impact you’ve had, astounding

[@morethan1]

Aight lets hear about TAHT

[@ladyj.9350]

I’m with comrade mika

[@pinkpanther1836]

Honestly kinda disappointed in fanita..

[@MikasRhetoric]

Me too a little

[@FukaiKokoro]

Idk to me the room thing seemed randomized. Not targeted. Like yeah it's a business trip but still it's a free trip to amazing places that most people would never be able to afford. Seems a tad ungrateful.

[@eleanorshellstrop39]

I want to be mistreated by Tarte. Some people are so entitled

[@wooogie672]

didn’t realize not wanting to be exploited by a huge company means you’re entitled

[@BIGHEVER]

Sounds about white.

[@seliisnotonfire]

an unbeatable brand trip interaction is eden the doll getting cheating on and homewrecked by isabel bedoya and then everyone dropped clips of isabel being drunk and messy the whole time 💀