Teen Was Denied Babysitting Payment for Wearing 'Inappropriate' Brandy Melville Tank Top. Then the Internet Rallied Behind Her

Yahoo

19 hours ago

A 15-year-old took to Reddit and shared that she was denied her full babysitting payment because of her choice of attire
The teenager wore a spaghetti strap Brandy Melville tank top with a cardigan over it for extra coverage during the babysitting job
The parents of the children attempted to dock her payment on grounds of her clothes being inappropriateBrandy Melville is popular with tween and teen girls for its girlish take on wardrobe staples, from cropped baby tees to tank tops with lacy trim and dainty satin bows. But one of the brand's core items left one teenager fighting to receive her full babysitting payment.
A 15-year-old high school student, Mae, took to Reddit to share the unexpected reaction she received for wearing Brandy Melville's Skylar Stripe Lace Tank Top — a spaghetti strap v neck tank with delicate lace trim — to a routine babysitting job.
She added that she wore 'a sweatshirt over my tank top and only took it off after the kids asked me to run around with them.'
The teen included snapshots of the texts between her and Marianne, the mother of the two girls she babysat for in April.
"I just wanted to reach out because I haven't gotten my payment," she wrote in the messages. "I know you guys celebrate Good Friday and Easter so I totally get that it probably slipped off your radar, but if you could Venmo me when you have the chance, that would be fantastic!"
Marianne told the teen over text that her babysitting outfit, which also included tan fleece sweatpants, was inappropriate and noted that her pay for that evening would be docked accordingly.
"We do not feel comfortable paying you the full amount after you wore such an inappropriate clothing to our house," the parent texted back. "The kids love you and we are more than happy to give you a second chance, but we cannot pay you more that [than] $50 after you wore that outfit."
The teen responded, "I just wanted to be in something flexible to run around in with Sarah and Eliza. $50 honestly does not feel [like] enough money for two kids and seven hours. I understand you do not feel okay paying me full price, but I'd be willing to do half of what I normally charge."
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In the caption of the post, Mae asked Reddit users if she was overreacting to the situation. She also gave a breakdown of her pricing, noting that she typically charges $20 for two kids and babysat the children between 4 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
The response to the teen's messages were overwhelmingly supportive and saw multiple users in the replies praising her for being respectful and well mannered, despite the difficult situation.
"[Your mom] should call them and f------SHAME them. Make sure your mom shames them for being predators who lust for teens," one user wrote. "Make sure you tell everyone teen girls are not safe there because they sexualize young women."
Another comment read, "If they were uncomfortable with your clothing they could have had a conversation with you. [In my opinion,] it's just shady behavior and an excuse not to pay up. I also agree with what others are saying about them sexualizing you. It's not cool."
Mae followed up the next day with an update after getting over 68,000 Upvotes and 4,600 comments on her original post. The teen told her mother about the situation, who sent Marianne an email for attempting to pay her less for the babysitting job.
"She never got a response ... ," she wrote.
The teen attached additional screenshots of the text exchange of how the situation with Marianne resolved. "While I feel awful that I offended you and Dan, we had never gone over rules about clothing," she wrote in the messages. "I think that it is the best decision for both of us if you pay me in total and we can put this behind us."
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Marianne said it was "disheartening" to see Mae "turn into another version of your mother," but ultimately sent the $150 in full.
"I do not think we will be using [you] as a sitter anymore," the parent added, to which Mae replied, "I highly doubt I will be recommending you to any of my friends who want to get into babysitting."
Read the original article on People