Luisa Zissman, star of The Apprentice, draws criticism from small business owners and fans after voicing frustration over unsolicited PR packages delivered to her £8 million Hertfordshire mansion.
Podcast Complaint Sparks Debate
On her podcast LuAnna, co-hosted with Anna Williamson, the 38-year-old entrepreneur described discovering an unrequested package at her gated home, which she shares with husband Andrew Collins and daughters Dixie, 15, Indigo, 10, and Clementine, 9.
“Someone had just put it there, didn’t want it, didn’t ask for it,” she said. “I opened it and saw the card which said ‘Hi Luisa, we’re local to you, we thought you’d like this’. I haven’t even taken it out of the box, it’s sitting in my boot room now.”
She added, “That’s a gift that I didn’t want, didn’t ask for and that has just been plonked on my doorstep. You know what p***es me off? It’s just s**t that’s cluttering up my house.”
Fans and Entrepreneurs Call Remarks ‘Rude and Entitled’
Comments on the LuAnna TikTok video highlight widespread disapproval. One user stated, “I’m sorry but just reply and say no thank you or donate unwanted items to charity/friends/family.”
Another remarked, “As a small business I’d be so disappointed if I gifted something to someone and they said this.” A third noted, “Kindness costs nothing, if you don’t want it gift it to someone or hand it into charity and don’t mention it!”
Critics also pointed out, “She’s an influencer, shouldn’t that be part of the job?” and accused her of label snobbery for accepting gifts from high-end brands like equestrian label LeMieux while rejecting others.
Zissman’s Clarification on Brand Collaborations
Zissman explained she welcomes products from brands she supports. “Genuinely, I will work with brands. LeMieux is an amazing horse brand I love, and I buy a lot from them. And they reach out to me and say ‘would you like this’ and I’m like ‘oh my god, I love that!’ But it is something that I would genuinely buy,” she said.
She recounted ignoring messages from another brand before receiving an unsolicited delivery, questioning how they obtained her address.
Defenders Highlight Privacy Concerns
Some supporters argue against the backlash. One commented, “It’s not an influencers job to promote your tat or discard of it without their permission. You’re also missing the point of a brand breaching her privacy by leaving something at her property without her ever communicating her address.”
Others raised security risks: “If lots of companies do that and it becomes obvious she’s away from home it’s a security risk.” They also noted the burden of handling numerous packages for influencers.
Recent Return to UK Home
Zissman returned to her Grade II-listed manor, set on 2.8 acres, in March after leaving Dubai with her children. She described the move as planned for podcast recordings, citing potential flight disruptions rather than regional tensions.
