Rachel Hollis faces backlash for plagiarizing content, taking responsibility for her team's actions.
Rachel Hollis's books promote fatphobic messages, equating weight with personal failure and perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
Rachel Hollis and her husband's divorce raises questions about the authenticity and credibility of their relationship-based brand, particularly in relation to selling marital advice and counseling programs.
Deep dives
Uncredited Quotes and Plagiarism Scandal
Rachel Hollis faces backlash for posting uncredited quotes and plagiarizing content from other motivational speakers. One quote, 'When you really want something, you'll find a way. When you don't really want something, you'll find an excuse,' draws attention for its similarity to a quote by Jim Rohn. Hollis apologizes, taking responsibility for her team's actions.
Fatphobic Messages in Books
Rachel Hollis's books receive criticism for promoting fatphobic messages. She emphasizes the importance of being thin and equates weight with personal failure. Her anecdotes and advice perpetuate harmful stereotypes and stigmatize people in larger bodies, disregarding the complexities of individuals' health and self-acceptance.
Divorce and Selling Marital Advice
Rachel Hollis and her husband announce their divorce after years of presenting a happy image on social media. However, they faced criticism for simultaneously selling marital advice and counseling programs, despite their own struggles. This discrepancy raises questions about the authenticity and credibility of their relationship-based brand.
Backlash from MLM Sellers
The podcast explores the backlash faced by Rachel Hollis from MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) sellers. As a popular figure in the self-help industry, Hollis was deeply intertwined with MLMs as her audience, primarily middle-class, white, conservative Christian women, were more likely to be involved with MLM companies. The podcast discusses how Hollis spoke at MLM conferences, perpetuating the message that success is achievable through hard work and dismissing criticism. The episode highlights the problematic nature of MLMs and their exploitation of individuals, the contradictions in Hollis' messaging about entrepreneurship, and the consequences faced by Hollis due to her association with MLMs.
Controversial Statements and Apology
The podcast delves into the controversial statements made by Rachel Hollis and her subsequent apologies. One of Hollis' statements that garnered backlash was her mention of having someone clean her house, which drew criticism for its unrelatability. The podcast also discusses her apology, highlighting its shortcomings and lack of genuine accountability. It explores how Hollis' self-help empire relies on a problematic rhetoric that promotes individualism and personal success while ignoring systemic issues. The episode concludes by questioning the future of Hollis' influence and the contradictions within her messaging that may impact her popularity among her audience.
In the sequel (sorry) to our first installment, we take a deep dive into Rachel's wildly problematic books and deeply weird downfall. Along the way we discuss allyship etiquette, MLMs and Ronald Reagan. We remain convinced that getting matching tattoos was the right decision for us.
