The necklace is featured in the brand’s “Rebel Heart” campaign starring Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo.
Yelp’s practices the subject of new documentary
Billion Dollar Bully, an investigative documentary being funded in part by crowdsourcing, looks into claims from business owners that the website manipulates reviews and gives preferential treatment to businesses that advertise.
San Francisco--An investigative documentary featuring interviews with business owners about Yelp’s allegedly flawed review system has passed its initial goal of $60,000 on crowdsourcing site Kickstarter, where filmmakers are raising money to help finish the project.
Led by director and producer Kaylie Milliken and Prost Productions, Billion Dollar Bully will look into “the claims by business owners of extortion, review manipulation and review fabrication,” according to the film’s Kickstarter page.
The filmmakers will interview business owners in person, all of whom have allegations against the review website’s “questionable dealings.” The film has so far been self-funded, with about half of production completed.
Yelp has come under fire before, especially from small business owners who allege that it attempts to coerce businesses to pay to advertise by manipulating which reviews can be seen.
However, the San Francisco-based site said there aren’t any merits to the claims being made in the film, and it calls into question the credibility of the woman making the film.
In response to request for comment about the documentary from National Jeweler, a Yelp spokesperson said over email, “The director has a conflict of interest, as she has a history of trying to mislead consumers on Yelp. There is no merit to the claims they appear to highlight, which have been repeatedly dismissed by courts of law, investigated by government regulators, including the FTC, and disproven by academic study.”
The conflict of interest that Yelp is referring to, according to one report, is that Milliken created three Yelp accounts in 2011 to post fake five-star reviews to boost ratings of her husband’s law firm, which Milliken admits she did do but said they were based on real legal services she received from the firm while she and her husband were dating.
Milliken said that she believes Yelp bringing up her reviews just “shows that they’re concerned about what’s in this film,” and that they’re trying to discredit her, adding that Yelp won’t agree to an interview for the documentary.
Even though Yelp has yet to agree to an interview for Billion Dollar Bully, the company did appear in a recent interview on CNBC, where Shannon Eis, Yelp’s vice president of corporate communications, went head-to-head with Milliken on the claims made against the site.
Milliken and Proust Productions’ initial goal for Billion Dollar Bully was to reach $60,000 on Kickstarter, which it accomplished less
They will continue to take donations until April 20, with a new “stretch goal” of $100,000 to cover additional costs and more research.
The Latest
The two organizations will host a joint event, “Converge,” in September 2025.
Big changes appear to be on the horizon for the diamond miner and its parent company, Anglo American.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
Padis succeeds Lisa Bridge, marking the first time the organization has had two women board presidents in a row.
Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment, shared the “five Es” of building a fan base during his AGS Conclave keynote.
The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar "John Mayer" was celebrated at a star-studded party in LA last week.
For over 30 years, JA has advocated for the industry, fought against harmful legislation and backed measures that help jewelry businesses.
The announcement came as the company reported a 23 percent drop in production in Q1.
The three-time Pro Bowler continues to partner with the retailer, donating to a Detroit nonprofit and giving watches to fans.
A double-digit drop in the number of in-store crimes was offset by a jump in off-premises attacks, JSA’s 2023 crime report shows.
Inspired by the Roman goddess of love, the designer looked to the sea for her new collection.
The luxury titan posted declining sales, weighed down by Gucci’s poor performance.
The selected nine organizations have outlined their plans for the funds.
The mining company’s Diavik Diamond Mine lost four employees in a plane crash in January.
The crown introduced a dozen timepieces in Geneva, including a heavy metal version of its deep-sea divers’ watch.
Emmanuel Raheb recommends digging into demographic data, customizing your store’s communications, and retargeting ahead of May 12.
Located in the town of Queensbury, it features a dedicated bridal section and a Gabriel & Co. store-in-store.
A 203-carat diamond from the alluvial mine in Angola achieved the highest price.
Ruser was known for his figural jewelry with freshwater pearls and for his celebrity clientele.
The “Rebel Heart” campaign embodies rebellion, romance, and sensuality, the brand said.
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares the standout moments from the education sessions she attended in Austin last week.
The overhaul includes a new logo and enhanced digital marketplace.
The money will go toward supporting ongoing research and aftercare programs for childhood cancer survivors.
A new addition to the “Heirloom” collection, this one-of-a-kind piece features 32 custom-cut gemstones.
Last month in Dallas, David Walton pushed another jeweler, David Ettinger, who later died.
The move will allow the manufacturing company to offer a more “diverse and comprehensive” range of products.