TikTok flower seller says ‘dehumanising’ comments took toll on mental health after backlash over revealing outfits
A TikTok live seller has spoken out after facing backlash over her outfits during livestreams, saying that “dehumanising” comments have “taken a toll” on her mental wellbeing.
The issue surfaced after a Stomp contributor raised concerns about women who were not “dressed decently” during their livestreams. A Shopee spokesperson later told Stomp that the content did not violate its guidelines.
TikTok influencer @vrayng also weighed in, commenting in a post that live sellers “always show you more than just the freaking flowers”.
The post has since been taken down, with the influencer issuing an apology. However, she maintained that “marketing tactics for the bouquet market” are “a little strange”.
Live seller defends practices: ‘It’s my livelihood’
In response, the live seller @mightbeivey said in an April 1 post that livestreaming had become her “bread and butter”.
The TikToker, who started livestreaming part-time in her final year of polytechnic, explained that her income is largely commission-based, typically ranging from 10 to 20 per cent of sales.
She added that if sellers fail to make sales, due to factors such as the platform’s algorithm or buyer fatigue, they may not earn any income.
“It became my bread and butter, it’s the way I make ends meet, and it’s my livelihood. So I think people can have a bit more empathy because you never really know the full context of things,” she said.
She added that she is currently on a gap year, and that her earnings go towards her living expenses and savings for university. She also described the job as more “lucrative” than other part-time work.
The seller also shared that she frequently receives “dehumanising” and “explicit comments” during livestreams.
“It really gets very draining for me, and it does take a toll on my mental wellbeing,” she said, adding that “yes, it’s all part of the job, but I think sometimes it’s just the freaking outrageous things that people say.”
She added: “It takes a lot of courage to put myself out there.”
She also said she has “always dressed the same way”, adding: “It’s just because I grew up in a more progressive culture.”
Stomp has reached out to mightbeivey for comment.
‘Just ignore them’: Netizens supportive
Some netizens expressed support and offered words of encouragement in the comments, saying her feelings were “valid”.
“Keep going, I’m always supporting you. Haters gonna hate but you gonna prosper,” one netizen commented.
Others called out the criticism, with one saying: “Girls hating on girls is so unnecessary.”
Another live seller, Celeste, also chimed in, saying such comments affect her as well. “I still try not to show it on live stream... It’s not nice being mean to a girl for absolutely no reason and just doing their job.”
“Just ignore them, just do you,” another said.
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