At a Glance
- Yinka Animashaun shared 2019 emails with Cole Walliser in which he questioned her ability to pay for wedding GlamBOT services
- Walliser told her the price “could be between $10,000 and $1,000,000” before naming a $300,000 fee
- The post has gained over 120,000 likes and 30 million views after Pop Crave amplified it
- Why it matters: The exchange highlights how vendors may judge potential clients based on assumptions
A viral post is resurfacing a 2019 email chain between GlamBOT director Cole Walliser and Yinka Animashaun, who says she faced condescending remarks while inquiring about hiring the slow-motion camera rig for her wedding.
The Exchange
On Jan. 18, Animashaun uploaded screenshots of 11 messages she exchanged with Walliser five years ago. She opened the conversation by asking, “Are you/the Glambot available for private events such as a wedding? I’d love to have you at mine September 20th and September 22nd. Please let me know your availability and rates!”
Walliser replied: “It is not cheap, if you feel like something like this might be within your budget range, then I am happy to discuss further.”
After Animashaun confirmed it was within budget, Walliser pushed back: “I don’t see how you could be since I didn’t say how much it was and could be between $10,000 and $1,000,000.”
Once the fee was set at $300,000, Animashaun promised to follow up. Walliser responded: “If you wanted to know how much it costs you just needed to ask, you don’t need to pretend you are going to book it.”
Reaction
Animashaun told News Of Los Angeles that the tone left her “hurt” and “angry.”
“As a Black woman I am no stranger to people making assumptions about who I am or what I am capable of, but I think his responses to me were exceptionally unprofessional and unkind,” she said. “I was preparing for one of the best days of my life, and to this day, his response shocks me.”
She added that she hoped sharing the exchange would serve as “a learning experience for him.”
Walliser did not reply to News Of Los Angeles‘s request for comment.
Viral Attention
Animashaun had posted the interaction multiple times since 2019, but it drew limited notice until Pop Crave tweeted it, earning over 120,000 likes and 30 million views within days.
The renewed scrutiny arrives shortly after Walliser defended Jennifer Lopez against online criticism claiming she was dismissive during a Golden Globes GlamBOT shoot. Walliser said on Instagram that he “didn’t take it personally” and that Lopez “knew what she was gonna do” on a crowded carpet.
