Bakery Owner Calls Out Binky Felstead for Requesting Free Birthday Cake

Reality television personality Binky Felstead has become the center of a public dispute after a London bakery owner accused her team of attempting to secure a free birthday cake in exchange for social media promotion.

Reshmi Bennett, the 42-year-old owner of the luxury cake business Anges de Sucre, used Instagram on April 9, 2026, to share screenshots of an email exchange between her business and Felstead’s personal assistant.

The correspondence revealed a request for a gifted yellow train cake for the third birthday of Felstead’s youngest son, Wilder. In return for the complimentary product, Felstead’s team offered an Instagram post collaboration to leverage the reality star’s following of 1.4 million users.

Dispute Over Social Media Exposure

The conflict highlights a recurring tension between small business owners and influencers regarding the value of social media exposure. Bennett has established a public track record of opposing the practice of offering exposure as payment for professional services.

According to reporting from BritBrief, Bennett’s social media profiles frequently emphasize that she does not accept exposure as a form of payment. Despite this clear stance, Felstead’s assistant proceeded with the request for a gifted item.

Bennett initially attempted to transition the inquiry into a standard commercial transaction. She requested specific details to provide a quote, including budget information, the delivery postcode, and image references for the design.

However, Felstead’s team reportedly declined the commercial route and reiterated their interest in a collaboration where the cake would be provided free of charge in exchange for promotional content on Instagram.

Public Response and Criticism

Bennett responded to the request by publicly criticizing the ethics of the proposal. She expressed disappointment and suggested that given Felstead’s perceived wealth, paying for the cake would have resulted in a more favorable public image for the Made In Chelsea star.

As part of her response, Bennett created a spoof GoFundMe page. The page asked for donations of £1.4 million for the cake, a figure referencing Felstead’s 1.4 million Instagram followers.

The incident has sparked a broader debate regarding the ethics of influencer marketing and whether social media reach constitutes fair compensation for luxury goods and services provided by small businesses.