Renowned fashion designer Maria B is under fire after Turkish influencer Turkan Atay accused the brand of withholding payment following a recent collaboration.
Turkan Atay, known for her fashion and lifestyle content, took to Instagram Stories to allege that Maria B’s team failed to honor their payment commitments for a brand shoot completed over three months ago.
Despite multiple attempts to resolve the issue privately, Turkan claimed her messages went unanswered.
“This is not a matter of money from now, this is a matter of self-respect,” Turkan stated, emphasizing the importance of dignity and recognition for creators who have fulfilled their contractual obligations.
She also highlighted that she had previously collaborated with Maria B without charge, but this time the agreement explicitly included payment, which was never received.
Supporting her claims, Turkan shared screenshots of her communications with Maria B’s representatives.
She further accused the brand of deleting their response stories on Instagram, interpreting this as an evasion of accountability. Turkan also refuted allegations that she was seeking cheap publicity, calling such claims audacious.
The controversy has resonated with many in the creative industry who face similar challenges with brands neglecting contractual duties. Maria B, a brand that has faced prior criticism for allegedly copying Turkish designs, now faces renewed scrutiny over its handling of international collaborations.
In response, Maria B posted a statement asserting their commitment to honoring partnerships. The brand denied withholding payment, describing the situation as a “regrettable misunderstanding” they were eager to resolve.
Maria B claimed a meeting was scheduled to address the issue, but the influencer chose to publicize the dispute instead.
