Turkish content creator exposes Maria B for exploitation, non-payment

Pakistani designer Maria B is in hot water again after digital creator Türkan Atay accused her of non-payment and unprofessional behaviour following a photoshoot in Turkey.

“I told you in my stories that I had been facing issues with a brand named Maria B, but you didn’t believe me," Türkan said, adding that she was approached again for a photoshoot in Turkey this year.

She explained that in Turkey, there is a different setup for shoots, where the venue, model, and other elements have to be paid for per outfit. "That’s why I charged her per dress, because I had to cover all expenses, including the location, venue, etc.,” she added.

Türkan further claimed to have "clearly communicated" her rates: “I gave her my quotation and have all the messages as proof. I did the shoot, made the video, and posted everything on social media. She paid me a lump sum, but I had clearly told her that I charge per dress."

The digital creator revealed that the brand later claimed "there must have been a misunderstanding because they usually pay based on reels."

Expressing her disappointment, Türkan Atay added, "It’s been three months now — they’ve been wasting my time and treating me like a fool. Please return my money. That is my money, and I have every right to do whatever I want with it. I will never work with you again. I’m extremely angry at your unprofessional attitude.”

Following her video, Maria B issued a public clarification on social media, to which the digital creator also responded, saying: “Maria B has shared stories against me. Maria Baji, I can hear you loud and clear, but I have the proof of our entire chat."

In the video, Türkan claimed, along with screenshots, that Maria B did not reply to her messages about the payment delay and said that "these things are handled by her manager."

Türkan went on to reveal that Maria B deleted all her messages, adding, "but I have all the proofs and I will share the screenshots here. Why did you delete your messages? Why didn’t you pay our money?”

Maria B’s brand issued a statement denying any intentional wrongdoing, saying, “There was a regrettable misunderstanding that we were committed to resolve. At no point was the payment denied. A meeting had been set up to address the issue, but the influencer chose to make a defaming reel instead of resolving the issue amicably. We remain committed to supporting the creative community.”

However, after some time, the post was quietly deleted, and the backlash only intensified.

But things didn’t end there. Maria B is now facing severe online backlash. Many accused her of conveniently playing the religion card when under scrutiny, while ignoring basic business ethics.

Artist and activist Leena Ghani didn’t hold back either. In a series of Instagram stories, she wrote, “Exploiting a young Turkish artist wasn't enough. Maria the B really can't help herself. Is this why she loves Turkey? Because now that people in Pakistan know her tactics, she's outsourcing the exploitation?”

She added, “Maria the B tried. She uploaded a video accusing @turkanpk of lying, but Türkan came with receipts. And just like that, Maria the B had no choice but to delete the video and wipe the comments to save face!”

She continued her criticism, saying, “Maria B is a Pakistani designer. She was never under any threat for speaking up for Falasteen. Nor should she be celebrated for speaking up while others in the fashion industry are silent… Speaking up at home means taking accountability and challenging power structures she benefits from. She’s no longer the hero, but the villain.”

Fans also chimed in with strong reactions, “I didn’t expect this from Maria B.”

“The bigger the name, the lesser the ethics.”

“Falasteen k haq mei awaz uthaatay uthaatay, apno ka haq kha gai 😂”

“File a legal action suit against her. This is diabolical, you deserve to get compensated!”

“Hope everyone learns from your video and experience and boycotts Maria B.”

Türkan’s experience has struck a chord with many creatives who’ve faced similar challenges after working with popular brands.