Talent manager Niasia Boykin, representing The Brownstone Collective, has publicly challenged swimwear brand Cupshe following an interaction in which she was told the company would not collaborate with Black creators for an upcoming campaign. The incident, which gained significant traction on social media platform Threads this week, has sparked a broader conversation regarding diversity and inclusion practices within the influencer marketing industry.
In her initial posts, Boykin shared a screenshot of an email sent from a representative of the brand. According to the correspondence, the representative explicitly stated that the company would “not collab with black people this campaign.” Boykin, who had been in communication with the brand to coordinate potential partnerships for her clients, characterized the communication as racial discrimination. She noted in her posts that she chose to document the interaction because such exclusionary practices often occur without public scrutiny.
[Image via Niasia Boykin/Instagram]
Company Response and Personnel Changes
Following the viral spread of the communication, Boykin shared a follow-up email she received from the company. In this second message, Cupshe addressed the incident, stating that the brand was “shocked and devastated” by the content of the previous email. The company asserted that the initial message did not reflect its values or its approach to creator partnerships. Furthermore, the brand confirmed that the employee responsible for the original email was no longer with the company.
The company stated they have “taken immediate action internally and are reviewing our processes to ensure our standards are upheld moving forward.” Despite this, Boykin expressed dissatisfaction with the response, noting in her social media caption that the apology was sent without a specific name attached, which she found unprofessional.
Calls for Industry Accountability
The situation has drawn responses from various figures in the entertainment and influencer sectors. Rachel Lindsay, an attorney and television personality known for her appearances on the Bachelor franchise, commented on the situation, urging the brand to move beyond written apologies. Lindsay called for tangible action, specifically requesting that the company engage Black influencers for future projects, such as upcoming brand trips or collaborative swimsuit capsule collections.
Lindsay’s comments highlight a growing demand for transparency and equitable representation in brand marketing. Her remarks underscore a sentiment shared by many in the industry who argue that internal policy reviews must be accompanied by visible changes in how companies select and compensate diverse creators.
Official Statement from Cupshe
On Friday, June 5, 2026, a representative for Cupshe provided a statement to People addressing the controversy. The brand representative confirmed that they were “aware of the situation” and had “taken action to address this.” According to the statement, the employee who sent the message had been with the company for only four days at the time of the incident and was “immediately terminated” upon discovery of the communication.
The company representative further stated, “The comments made do not in any way reflect Cupshe’s practices, or the way we engage with creators and partners both internally and externally.” The brand reiterated that it is currently conducting an internal review of its hiring, training, and oversight protocols to prevent similar occurrences in the future. As of this report, no further public updates regarding the specific changes to their influencer collaboration strategy have been released.