Florist Clashes with Reality TV Star Over Bouquet Price

An independent florist has publicly criticized Love Island winner Finley Tapp after he described a £20 bouquet as 'pathetic' in a video he allegedly filmed without permission. The owner of The Flower Boutique in Woburn Sands accused Tapp of hypocrisy, pointing to his recent paid partnership with Interflora, a company that collaborates with local florists.

Tapp, who rose to fame on ITV's reality TV show, visited The Flower Boutique to purchase flowers for his wife's return to work after maternity leave. He documented the purchase online, expressing disappointment with the size of the bouquet he received for £20. The arrangement included purple asters, a cream rose, delphiniums, and green foliage.

"I thought I was going to walk out of there with a big f***ing bouquet of flowers! Oh, well. It's the thought that counts, innit? That's pathetic," Tapp said in the video.

In response, the owner, Kim, posted on Instagram, questioning Tapp's actions. "Recently, we served an influencer (unbeknownst to us) with almost one million followers," the post read. "They came into our shop and requested a £20 bouquet. They made no complaint in the shop when they received their flowers and took them away happily. However, they then made a video of their bouquet, deeming it 'pathetic'."

Kim highlighted Tapp's collaboration with Interflora, where he praised the company for supporting local businesses. "You should mean what you say, whether you're paid or not," she stated, referencing his earlier video praising Interflora. She also criticized Tapp for filming staff without consent.

The florist explained that supermarkets can offer lower prices due to mass production and higher markups on other items, contrasting with the quality and ethical sourcing of independent florists. "The flowers sold at supermarkets are typically mass-produced, lower grade, full of chemicals and preservatives," Kim wrote. "They also have a huge command of the market and can buy hundreds of stems at a time, versus us buying much smaller amounts in one go. It's the same as Shein or Temu charging less than an independent boutique."

Supporters of The Flower Boutique commended Kim for her response, praising the quality of her arrangements and suggesting Tapp should have increased his budget if he desired a larger bouquet. Some commenters agreed that Tapp's budget might have been insufficient for a larger arrangement, while others defended the florist's right to address the situation.

However, some online users questioned Kim's decision to publicly name Tapp, given he had not initially identified her business. Kim clarified that Tapp's video included a shot panning the interior of the shop and captured a staff member making the bouquet, actions taken without permission.

Some commentators also felt Kim's remark about the budget being 'pathetic' was inappropriate, suggesting it could alienate customers with similar spending limits. The Daily Mail has reached out to Finley Tapp for comment.