How to deal with the anxiety of finding out you were the butt of a groups joke

Having my own business is a dream of mine, and not only have you done it, but grown it to 12 employees in 18 months!

That is honestly one of the most impressive things I have heard in my life. You are absolutely not butt of any joke.

This person is clearly jealous and immature. Ignore them.

Focus on your successful business which is successful no doubt because you know where your priorities are and where your time should be spent - not on her as it turns out which she needs to deal with professionally. I agree with others, your instincts were serving you well it seems.

Don’t respond, she/they will at some point know you knew about the phone case and your lack of response will be a measure of how trivial the behaviour is. Leave her to fuck up her own reputation, because I guarantee even those laughing along will be making a mental note that she isn’t credible. The world can suddenly be terribly small when someone does something like this; word gets around and she goes to the bottom of the list of potential people to work with. That’s her problem, not your’s.

Message her saying' Love the phone case you bought xxx. where's it from so I can order one for myself' then add 'being FAMOUS has got me lots of business & helped my business grow. Thanks for the extra advertising' Leave it at that & don't give her a second thought. She thought she was being funny, she wasn't so don't worry yourself over it & ignore her from now on. It sounds like you're doing really well so keep it up whatever way works for you.

Urgh, people suck. I’m sorry you’ve been treated like this. It really isn’t very professional of her (I suppose it was her friend really though).

On the upside at least it shows that the advertising worked! Can you try to look at it from that angle?

They’re jealous - rise above it - make a post that says you’ve heard people love your content so much they’re even making phone cases with your picture on! So you’ll be selling phone cases with your picture on from now on thanks for the great idea!

To clarify: the phone case stunt is bad for her business

I agree with pps that you should be really proud of your achievements and that the actions of the content creator say a lot more about her and her social circle than they do about you. I also agree that it might be better to leave well alone. If you can be bothered/want closure it could be worth casually getting in touch with the content creator to check in. As in you were surprised to hear about the phone case and you were curious about what led to it (as it’s so unprofessional).Had she been upset by the two of you parting ways? If so, an honest convo about this with you might have been more productive as the phone case stunt is bad for business type thing. It sort of calls her out and potentially opens the door to a more honest convo about what’s behind this, that might give you closure. Good luck!

In my youth, I was often described as beautiful or extremely attractive (never pretty though). I never believed it of course and was deeply insecure about many things about my looks (and other things) as I never fitted the tanned, blonde and blue eyed type that was all the rage at the time and I didn't have the classic good looks of my mother's family who mostly looked like film star material. I look back at old photographs and could kick myself for all those insecurities I had as a young woman. This women may appear gorgeous to you but that doesn't mean she can't feel jealous or insecure. Just rise above this and don't descend into the dust of the arena.

Print her face and stick it on a toilet roll and post it.

You are over thinking, there is no harm done. One post, your identity withheld, nobody cares.
You will be judged on your product, not a telephone cover given as a present.

You've done really well.
But drop any thoughts of engaging further with this woman

Ignore.
You stopped working with her because your 6th sense picked up on something off about her.
All of the above.

Haven’t read everything, I’d print a load of phone cases and give them away or sell them. Like they do with pens or key rings etc. Make a success of that. And then gloat about it on one of your public posts.

you can have a lot of fun with this 😁

More than likely this person is on Mumsnet, so she will already be aware.

Contact her directly and ask where you can buy some of her merch. "Don't need a phone case, love, but do you have any tumblers with my face on? A mug with my mug on it?"

I have experienced similar issues… one thing I have learned (if this is of any use) is when you are successful or becoming successful, people won’t be happy. It’s weird as if you are not successful, people won’t necessarily want to associate with you either, but you’re more tolerable cause you’re not a “threat” to them. When you start being successful, they draw parallels to themselves and feel like they’re behind in life. And instead of looking inwards as to what they can do better, they take out their lack of progress on you, ie do you deserve your success or not.

This content girl was upset that you didn’t take her advice or didn’t funnel your funds into her business. She feels snubbed that you did it without her. She feels angry that you didn’t need her business.

Realistically you are not trying to be famous, you are promoting your business and propping up your livelihood so who cares about her comments on fame. You’re getting paid and managing to paying others regardless. Plus honestly there’s nothing wrong with seeking fame if that makes sense, because you’re increasing the visibility of your brand and making it personable which is working for you.

I would tell yourself that deep down there was a reason you didn’t proceed with her services. Something didn’t feel right. And now you are fully proven right in your suspicions, because she’s proven the type of person she is

Your success has made you the focus of envy, especially as it has been quick.
Be very very proud of yourself.

Sometimes we jump to the negative because of where our head is at.

You CAN choose how to take this, as a dig at you, or as a nod to the fact that you have grown a very successful business quickly.

She may be put out that you chose not to move forward with her, but if so, you were right as she could be a very indiscreet unprofessional person.

Your health worries have elevated your anxiety, understandably.
Do some deep breathing.
Look at head tapping to reduce your anxiety and maybe listen to some of the f bilateral music that is very de-stressing and soothing.

I wouldn't dream of referring to what has happened, and should anyone else mention it, make out you are so flattered by it.

No one can force YOU, to think badly of yourself. Big smile and fake it till you make it.

I really hope you get good health news.
Worry does awful things to the mind.

Having been trolled on social media within the last few days, I know how you feel. I would call her out publicly, then block.

You’re brave and the world is full of nasty cowards like this girl.

Don’t give her any headspace.

They sound sooo jealous of you OP!!

How totally unprofessional of her.

I would do this!

Did you see the post on insta by Lucy Jo Hudson a few months ago addressing comments around why she was doing a travel business in between acting jobs? I thought she addressed the comments well and it was not at all self pitying.

for you, I would agree that ignoring it and feeling glad that you aren't so petty and pathetic would be the best way. Seriously it just seems like such a completely ridiculous way to react to someone you briefly worked with, and, pertinently, not in the slightest bit funny given most of the people she was away with probably didn't know who you were. Just imagine trying to explain it 'Oh it's a photo of a random woman who posts a lot of content about her business online.' 'Oh...right...lol?'

However from an objective POV I do feel that other people thinking of hiring this woman should have a heads up that if you hire her to do some work she might end up taking the piss out of you! So if she does have to be registered to a professional network or something I would be tempted to raise concerns, or alternatively just give a negative review (albeit not going into details) on her website or google reviews or anything she uses. But depends whether its worth the potential fallout/headspace for you.

Also just to reiterate everyone who has said going from a personal business to 12 employees in 18 months is amazing! While I don't think making a 'thing' about it on your social media now is necessarily the best idea, I can imagine this is the sort of story you might mention in the future if you ever give a talk to school/uni students about building your own business or an interview to a local paper/mention in your autobiography when you become the next Alan Sugar - it shows the jealousy of people who can't deal with others' success....
As eminent philosopher Taylor Swift once said, haters gonna hate, hate, hate...and she seems to be doing alright for herself!

I'm really sorry you're upset, I can sense you're really hurt.

Could you try to twist the narrative in your mind as something fun you could laugh off. That would show a huge amount of self awareness in their small bitchy minds.

One thing I've learned is that everyone likes the person who can laugh at themselves. I'd try to capitalise on it some way even it's just socially.

Personally I’d be wary of the “friend” who told you this. Anyone who puts themselves out in public from the lady who runs your local shop, to the “”linkedinfluencers” will have someone (or a group) who take against them.

it’s really mean spirited of someone to tell you about it to be honest, as it happens - but we don’t need to know thank you

I wouldn’t be embarrassed- you have nothing to be embarrassed about - I would be furious and let the content creator know that you will not be recommending her product or her services to anyone due to her unprofessional manner!

I'd get one of your staff to look for some technical/ legal advice about copyright for images of you. I'm a lawyer in a different field so don't know the answer but I don't think it's ok for people to take your image to print on a phone case.

It's a 'joke' this time but somebody with malicious intent could probably do something worse so it's worth planning how to make that harder for them (? watermarks on pictures ? copyright notice etc).

I wouldn't do or say anything to or about her till you've taken steps to reduce the likelihood of similar happening again. And treat it as a work problem your staff can help with rather than as personal embarrassment.