A feud between a blogger and an Irish Hotel has sparked debate online: is it okay to ask for freebies in exchange for publicity?
Paul Stenson, the owner of the White Moose Cafe in Dublin, posted a screenshot to Twitter last week of an unidentified blogger's email to his business, asking for free accommodation.
"My partner and I are planning to come to Dublin for an early Valentine's Day weekend," the email read.
"I came across your stunning hotel and would love to feature you in my YouTube videos and recommend others to book up in return for free accommodation."
But Mr Stenson hit back.
"Dear Social Influencer (I know your name but apparently it's not important to use names).
"It takes a lot of balls to send an email like that, if not much self-respect and dignity.
"If I let you stay here in return for a feature in your video, who is going to pay the staff who look after you?
"Maybe I should tell my staff they will be featured in your video in lieu of receiving payment for work carried out while you're in residence?
"P.S. The answer is no."
Elle Darby has since come forward as the unidentified blogger, saying she had been tracked down online and abused by hundreds of people following his "malicious" post.
"I feel so disgusting having to say this.
"As a 22-year-old girl whose running her own business from her home I don't feel like I did anything wrong.
"I've never once in my life had a rude, nasty, disrespectful response to me directly.
"[He] decided to take that email which I'd written to them in confidentiality, and blast it over their social media pages with nothing but malicious intent."
Ms Darby says for social media influences such as herself, approaching businesses is a part of the job.
"My intent was literally just to see if he wanted to do business with me.
"I was so gutted about it."
The White Moose Cafe Facebook page has since been flooded with one-star reviews in Ms Darby's defence. Mr Stenson has publicly argued back with the writer of each review.
Newshub.
