Paige Paul, the wife of American tennis star Tommy Paul, publicly criticized a Nantucket business after she encountered a "no influencers" sign within its premises. Paul, a content creator and business owner herself, shared her dissent on social media, questioning the message behind the sign at the Four Winds Craft Guild store.
Underneath a photograph of the sign, Paul, 28, posted a lengthy comment stating, "If you call yourself a feminist but proudly put up a 'No Influencers' sign, it's worth asking who you are attempting to delegitimize, and why..." She argued that the sign "mocked" women in the emerging creator economy and was a peculiar message coming from a store celebrating a craft with a significant history of female contributions to the local economy.
Paul asserted that the creator economy is largely driven by women and has redirected substantial revenue from traditional advertising due to its ability to foster trust and community. "One woman with a loyal audience can successfully launch a business at a scale that would have once required corporate backing and massive advertising budgets. That's a win. This sign isn't," she concluded.
Following her comments, the original post was reportedly taken down, and the Four Winds Craft Guild indicated that its Instagram page had been reported. The store subsequently shared an image of the sign on its story, appearing to allude to Paul in a post that read, "Imagine being so bored with life that you spend your pastime trying to report a photo on IG that makes you feel uncomfortable."
Paul recently opened a storefront in Nantucket for her clothing brand, Dairy Boy, which she describes as an "American lifestyle brand rooted in nostalgia." Her brand offers various apparel and accessories. However, her business expansion into the town has reportedly been met with local dissent, with discussions on Nantucket's Reddit page indicating a lack of popularity.
Online reactions to Paul's critique of the sign varied, with some users criticizing her stance. Comments included sentiments such as "Yes Paige influencers are very oppressed. Girl shut upppp" and "Can’t believe this is the hill she’s dying on." Some speculated that Paul may have used artificial intelligence to draft her lengthy comment.
Paige and Tommy Paul were married on July 14. Paul's background includes growing up in Connecticut and Vermont, experiences she attributes to shaping her appreciation for home and tradition.