Influencer pushes back after bakery accuses her of demanding free food for a glowing review

10 October 2025

Glamoramaaaa. Credit : glamoramaaaa/TikTok

When TikTok food reviewer Aurora Griffo, known online as “Glamorama,” shared a candid critique of Scottsdale, Arizona’s JL Patisserie on October 7 she expected some feedback but not the viral backlash that followed. In her review she took aim at the bakery’s bright green pistachio filling, calling it “fake,” and complained that its quiche crust was “paper thin.” She also described their coffee as “super sour.” But she did temper her observations by praising the pumpkin pie croissant, and summed up that if one “stays away from the expensive ingredients,” the bakery’s offerings still held merit.

Her video initially gathered modest engagement just a few thousand likes. That changed dramatically when JL Patisserie responded. The bakery’s CEO, Jenna Leurquin, shared a video claiming that Griffo had proposed a collaboration in which she would write a good review in exchange for free food, an offer they said they declined. Leurquin alleged that Griffo later attempted a form of “bullying” by suggesting she would not post favorably unless she received complimentary items. The bakery’s rebuttal highlighted their imported pistachio paste, European flour, and a six-month sourdough starter as evidence of their craftsmanship. The video drew over two million likes.

Griffo responded quickly, asserting that she never offered to withhold negative feedback in exchange for freebies. In fact she posted what appeared to be a DM exchange to back up her claim: when she proposed a collab she promised to remain honest, cushioning her critique when necessary. “When it’s a collab I will still do the honest review and highlight/focus on what I enjoyed and be softer/quicker on my words with what I may not like as much,” reads the message she shared. She countered the bakery’s accusations with an assertive tone: “What I don’t respect are the lies.” She added that larger platforms often punch down on content creators and that this felt like one of those moments.

Leurquin, in turn, said in a statement to People that she did not intend to single out Griffo by name. “My message was to stand up against this type of behavior and the danger of what influencing can mean on social media,” she said, defending the bakery and her team. She framed the response as a defense of her product and her staff rather than a personal attack.

This public back-and-forth raises sharp questions about the power dynamics between influencers and small businesses. For many creators, food reviews are territorial: your voice helps build or erode trust. For restaurants and bakeries, reputations can hinge on single references. The clash between authenticity and promotional expectation has only grown more volatile as social media platforms reward outrage, emotional stakes, and controversy.

The incident also spotlights how quickly an online feud can amplify beyond its starting point. What began as Griffo’s food critique spiraled into a reputational battle that consumed both parties’ social feeds. Followers and critics weighed in, choosing sides: some defended Griffo as a conscientious critic, others defended the bakery’s right to respond. The saga demonstrates how easily modern influencer culture becomes a zero-sum game.

Beyond the posturing, the affair suggests a deeper tension in how creators are monetized. Influencers are expected to be both critics and collaborators and the line between those roles can be blurry. Griffo’s dilemma is increasingly common: when does fair critique look like a slight, and when does commerce intrude on integrity? On the bakery’s side, responding too aggressively can backfire, making them seem insecure or adversarial.

For Griffo, the fallout may deepen her brand. She doubled down on transparency and attempted to shift focus to the bakery’s claims rather than her original review. Whether or not she wins over doubters, she has made her stance clear: she will not be silenced by accusations that she trades integrity for free samples.

For JL Patisserie, the spotlight has changed the conversation about its products. The scrutiny forced it to defend and explain its ingredients and techniques to a much wider audience than its core customers. That level of attention can be uncomfortable or it can be leveraged, depending on how well the bakery controls the narrative moving forward.

In the end this clash is not just about pastries or pistachio paste. It’s a flashpoint in evolving creator economics, power dynamics in local business, and the transactional nature of online influence. For fans, observers, and everyday eaters, it reminds us that the same devices we use to celebrate food culture now magnify the shadow side of critique and commerce.