Amanda Bynes Faces Backlash Over $218 Handmade Purses

Amanda Bynes is facing criticism online for the pricing and perceived quality of handmade purses sold under her New York $peed label. The 40-year-old actress has listed two purses for $218 each, drawing comparisons to trash bags and accusations of lacking structure and finish.

One of the items, a black purse with pink trimming titled "goth bagg," was advertised with the caption, "Play dead • the next bag drop." Online reactions were mixed, with some users questioning the aesthetic and construction. One commenter wrote, "I literally thought somebody was weighing something with a trash bag…," while another noted that the bag "has absolutely no structure."

Another user offered a more nuanced critique, stating that while the "body bag style pvc" and naming showed potential, the execution fell short. "The quality does not appear to be very good both from seeing lose threads, uneven stitching, lack of lining and reinforcing the bags and actual feedback of people that have bought and received one," the user commented.

Some responders argued that the price point did not align with the apparent quality. "I love Amanda and love that she's being creative with something she's passionate about, but until she upskills the prices need to be lower," one user wrote. Another suggested that consumers were primarily paying for Bynes's celebrity status rather than the product itself.

However, not all feedback was negative. Some users praised the purses, calling them "very beautiful" and possessing "legit designer quality" with a cool "rainbow shine."

Bynes, who graduated from fashion school in 2019, also posted a second purse, a pink, sparkling bag named "prince$$ bag," also priced at $218. This item also generated comments regarding its quality and cost. "You can literally see the nylon threads poking out... Girl the price should match the quality. At least a little bit," read one comment.

Discussions also touched upon the current economic climate, with some users suggesting that the $218 price was unrealistic. "$218 in this economy for such a low quality bag is insane… How can you even justify charging this much," one person asked.

Bynes first announced her intention to launch a bag line in July via Instagram, expressing excitement about "the whole production of it," including "decals" and "fabrics."