B&T’s industry-leading influencer column returns. This week, we’re asking whether ‘billionaire’ Kylie Jenner’s birthday party is an indicator of an economic downturn (spoiler alert: she’ll be fine). And we mull Sopha Dopha’s croissant-eating past given her gluten-free stoush with Sydney Airport.
Billionaire But Make It Budget: Kylie Jenner’s ‘Recession Indicator’ Birthday Party
Kylie Jenner’s recent birthday celebrations have been deemed a “recession indicator” by the internet, as the billionaire opts for lowkey, at-home celebrations in contrast to her usual yachts and private island parties.
The “Princess Kitty” themed 29th birthday party at Jenner’s Beverly Hills home, was complete with her celebrity friends, tiaras and feather boas. Photos shared online showed gem-covered cakes, cat decorations and food laid out in the kitchen. The result was what the internet has deemed as less billionaire birthday spectacular and more “your mum let you have six friends over after school”.
@miss2rawmilli2.0 looks like the economy personally sent her a budget…💀😳💀##kardashians#losangeles#kyliejennerbirthday#kyliejenner ♬ sonido original – miss2rawmilli2.0
Not everyone is convinced the lowkey affair is evidence of impending economic doom. Plenty of users came to Jenner’s defence, arguing that the billionaire just wanted to hang out with friends, stay home and eat cake. Marie Antionette, anyone?
@fishhkitty commented: “she just wants a fun simple bday why are yall mad”
@giannapace._ commented: “or it’s just what she wanted?…😭”
For years, the Kar-Jenners’ birthday celebrations have functioned like full-scale events. Private jets, floral instalments, tropical destinations and increasingly elaborate themes. So when one of the most followed people on Instagram posts something that vaguely resembles your eighth birthday party, the internet starts to check economic indicators.
Whether Kylie was genuinely craving normalcy and a lowkey birthday, or has simply decided the save the exorbitant celebrations for her 30th next year, one thing is clear: in 2026, nothing says recession quite like a Kardashian doing their own catering.
Sydney Airport Butters Up Sopha Dopha In Gluten-Free Feud
There are many reasons as to why an airport and influencer may publicly beef.
Flight delays, cancellations, lost luggage. Gluten-free toast? Perhaps not. And yet here we are.
The latest unlikely internet beef began when Sophia Begg, better known as Sopha Dopha, posted a TikTok complaining about the last of gluten-free breakfast options at Sydney Airport.
@notsophaadophaaI’m ravenous♬ original sound – Notsophadophaa
Instead of taking the traditional customer-service router, Sydney Airport replied. The official TikTok account used Sopha’s own voice over to display seven gluten-free options avaliable across its three terminals with a caption reading: “Hope that helps.”
It sounds fairly harmless. In practice, the internet decided it was uncalled for. Things escalated in the comments, where the Airport’s account appeared to like comments mocking Begg. The response, divided the internet. Some applauded the airport for having a sense of humour whilst other felt the account had crossed the line.
The whole saga is a case study on the increasingly blurred line between brand account and content creators. Brands have spent years being told to ditch the coporate jargon and embrace personality. Sydney Airport did that but perhaps with slightly more bite than some users were expecting.
The Airport account copped so much slack a spokesperson told B&T: “We recognise that some people felt that our recent post missed the mark, our intent was to highlight the gluten free options at the airport which on this occasion failed to meet expectations. We know that finding suitable food options when travelling is important and we’re working with our retail partners to make it easier for passengers to find the information they need.”
Apology aside, Sopha Dopha just wanted gluten-free toast. Sydney Airport said it had gluten-free toast.
But don’t worry Sydney Airport, B&T has uncovered what seems to evidence of Sopha Dopha tucking into a croissant in Paris just last month. La La Land, the café chain from which she purchased the croissant (we’re assuming she purchased it) doesn’t seem to offer a gluten-free option on its website — though we could be wrong.
