BINKY Felstead talks for the first time about THAT birthday cake freebie drama – and how she coped with the aftermath.
In our exclusive chat, the anxious Made In Chelsea star admits she’s “never experienced anything on this scale before” but why she has NO regrets.
Binky Felstead’s team contacted a luxury London bakery asking for a freebie in exchange for an online post Credit: For Fabulous by Mark Hayman
The former Made in Chelsea star reveals the scandal has affected her whole family and even led to death threats in her DMs Credit: For Fabulous by Mark Hayman
EVERYONE likes getting something for nothing, whether it’s a free brownie at a local cafe or a luxe holiday. It doesn’t always end well, however – as Binky Felstead knows only too well.
Last month, the former Made In Chelsea star found herself at the centre of a showbiz storm, after someone from her team contacted luxury London bakery in exchange for a post.
Not since Marie Antoinette’s ”let them eat cake” has there been such a furore over baked goods, with Binky criticised for using ”clout as currency”, ostracised and even sent death threats.
Some people were so outraged by the story, they even contacted Marks & Spencer – who has worked with for three years – demanding she be dropped.
The baker set up a fake GoFundMe page for the reality star Credit: GoFundMe
The reality star with children India, Wolfie, Wilder and husband Max Darnton Credit: Supplied by Binky Felstead
Binky kept a dignified silence online after the storm but worried her career was over Credit: For Fabulous by Mark Hayman
Binky pictured on Made In Chelsea alongside Cheska Hull Credit: E4/PLANET PHOTOS
Today, in her first interview since erupted, Binky is speaking to Fabulous about what really happened, and how she’s coped in the aftermath.
“Honestly, it’s been a lot,” Binky admits, looking pale, fragile and a shadow of her former self.
Shaking with nerves, she admits she had been crying all morning.
“I’ve been in the public eye since 15 years ago, so I’m not new to scrutiny, and I made peace with that years ago. You take the good with the bad – that’s part of the deal with being in the public eye – but I’ve never experienced anything on this scale before.”
The 35 year old – who shares daughter India, eight, with MIC ex , 36, and sons Wolfie, four, and Wilder, three, with husband , 37, a businessman – says it’s affected the whole family.
“Wolfie kept asking Max: ‘Why does Mummy keep crying?’ That’s when it really hit home,” she says.
“What’s been hardest is the level of personal abuse. Death threats in my DMs, people calling me a bad mum, tagging brands I work with and asking for me to be dropped, it’s been relentless.
‘Really shaken’
“And it’s not just public comments, it’s the private messages too, which can feel even more intense, as they’re targeted.
“I think what’s really shaken me is seeing just how quickly things can spiral. Five days of that level of noise and it really takes its toll.
“There were moments where I felt completely overwhelmed by it all, struggling to switch off, not sleeping and just feeling a constant sense of anxiety sitting in my chest.
“It’s been genuinely frightening at times. I’ve seen a very dark side of social media as a whole, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”
So, in Binky’s own words, what does she think went wrong?
“‘Cakegate’ wasn’t on my 2026 bingo card,” she says.
“In reality, it was quite straightforward. I was away on holiday, and my PA was helping oversee the organisation of my son Wilder’s third birthday party.
“She reached out to a cake designer to see if they’d be interested in a gifting collaboration, which is a fairly standard approach in this industry.
“It was intended to be a simple enquiry. If it’s not right for the , they politely decline and that’s that. What then happened was the email exchange was shared publicly.
What’s been hardest is the level of personal abuse. Death threats in my DMs, people calling me a bad mum, tagging brands I work with
Binky Felstead
“It felt like the conversation was encouraged to continue in a way that could later be taken out of context. Emails were then posted online, and it quickly escalated into something much bigger.
“I completely respect that gifting isn’t for everyone, especially for small businesses where margins are tight or maybe it’s not necessarily the right timing for them, but equally, those conversations should stay private and professional, regardless of the outcome,” adds Binky.
Binky has reunited with her Made In Chelsea pals for E4 spin-off Beyond Chelsea with Rosie Fortescue and Lucy Watson, the co-stars pictured above Credit: Unknown
Binky, who has has pivoted from being a reality star to a mumfluencer, also opens up about motherhood and if a fourth child could be on the cards Credit: For Fabulous by Mark Hayman
Reality star Binky is all smiles as she poses with Kelly Allen Credit: For Fabulous by Mark Hayman
What happened afterwards was a snowball effect, with other businesses for blagging freebies – including Funfetti, the baker who made her wedding cake in return for a magazine mention and social post, but claims to have been ghosted by the star.
“In terms of the initial enquiry [to Anges De Sucre], I don’t regret it in the sense that it was an offer, not an expectation. The business had every right to privately decline, which they did, and I respected that,” she explains.
“What I do regret, and where I am completely at fault, is the situation with Funfetti. [The owner] Jeyda created the most incredible cake for my wedding, and we had agreed coverage in return for her masterpiece.
“Although I got her included in Hello!, I didn’t fully deliver on the social media agreement, and there’s no excuse for it.”
Binky says as soon as she was made aware of the situation, she got her team to contact Funfetti and arrange payment for her wedding cake.
Dignified silence
“I’ll also be reaching out to her personally once everything has died down, because that’s important to me. Regardless of time passed, it’s not how I want to conduct myself, and I’m genuinely sorry for that experience.”
While there’s an earnestness to Binky where it’s clear she admits she was at fault and wants to make amends, she’s emphatic that gifting itself isn’t necessarily wrong.
“People might not like it, and that’s completely valid, but it is widely used. For many businesses, especially smaller ones, that exposure can be incredibly valuable.
“It can bring in new customers, build awareness and save on marketing costs that they might not otherwise be able to afford. For others, it doesn’t work, and that’s absolutely fine, too.
“That said, I do understand why people were frustrated. While gifting is common in my industry, that doesn’t automatically make it fair, especially for small businesses where costs really matter.
“Even if something is standard practice, it still needs to be handled thoughtfully.”
While Binky has kept a dignified silence online, her friends and family have rallied, keeping her going through the dark days when she worried her career was over.
It’s never my intention to undervalue anyone’s work, and that’s something I’ll be more mindful of
Binky Felstead
“I’ve always kept my circle quite small,” she says. “And I’m really grateful for that. My friends have been incredible.
“My husband Max cut his work trip short and came home early, as he knew I was mentally not in a great place, which meant everything to me.
“Just having him here made a huge difference, and my children – there’s nothing quite like a cuddle from them to bring you back down to earth.
“I also saw people in the industry speak out [in her defence], like [broadcaster and DJ] on her , and even I don’t know personally sharing kind messages, as well as a number of friends in the public eye checking in on me.
“That’s been really touching, because it reminds you there’s still a lot of good out there, too,” she says.
In fact, could it have helped her career, rather than hindered it?
“Strangely, since all of this happened, I’ve actually had more messages than ever from businesses wanting to collaborate. It’s quite surreal. Hundreds of messages to me and my management,” she says.
Sharper awareness
“Moving forward, I will still engage in collaboration where it feels right, because it is part of how this industry works, but with a much sharper awareness of how it’s perceived and how important it is that it feels fair for everyone involved.
“I’ve really listened to what people have been saying, especially owners. It’s never my intention to undervalue anyone’s work, and that’s something I’ll be more mindful of.”
The biggest shift for her has been around family.
“Max and I recently had a big conversation about sharing our personal life and family online.
“I think what this experience has shown us is just how exposed things can become very quickly, and that’s something I need to be more conscious of as a parent, especially with some of the threatening private messages I was receiving.
We’d love another one if we’re lucky enough – but not quite yet
Binky Felstead
“That said, I also want to be honest with myself. I don’t think it’s as black and white as never sharing my family life online. are my life, and naturally that has always been reflected in what I’ve shared on and on social media.
“But moving forward, it’s about being more considerate and making sure anything I share feels safe, respectful and on my terms to protect my family.”
Binky lights up as she talks about her children. It’s clear that they are her whole world and perhaps why she has pivoted from being a reality star to a mumfluencer.
“I love it,” she says, smiling. “I’ve always wanted to be a mummy. I was only 26 when I had India – the first of my friends to get pregnant. She completely changed me, as children do. She basically saved me and gave me purpose.
“And Max is such an amazing dad. He has to travel quite a lot for work, so that can be quite tough at times, but he does his fair share of parenting. We’re a good team and our children are my everything.
What was the last...
TV show you watched?
Love Story. The fashion was fab.
Thing you bought?
I bought my manager lunch from Gail’s.
Person who texted you?
Max, saying he hoped the shoot went well.
Time you laughed?
Just now.
Podcast you listened to?
I don’t actually like them, but I’ll listen if my husband has them on in the car.
Show you went to?
The Lion King in New York. It was incredible.
“I like a hectic household, and navigating motherhood in general. You never get the same day twice.
“Going from one child to three is a big difference. I always imagined having lots of children and watching them grow up and their bonds get stronger.”
As for whether they might be a baby number four, Binky remains tight-lipped.
‘Not all fun and games’
“I don’t know,” she says coyly. “We’d love another one if we’re lucky enough – but not quite yet. I’ve just got Wilder out of nappies.
“To be honest, it’s only been the last few weeks where they’ve all started sleeping past 6.30am, so I’m slowly catching up on my .”
Another positive to come out of the backlash is that it forced Binky to put her phone down and be more present.
“I’m the strict parent and Max is the softy,” she laughs. “When I put India to bed, we always have a cuddle and then she will open up about everything from school to her friends. I want to be able to give my time to them. But, of course, with work and life, it’s tough.
“Recently, I’ve not been going on my phone. It’s something I’ve been thinking about – that we need to put the phone aside and focus on them and be present.
My brother Oliver tried to stage an intervention to stop me doing Made In Chelsea
Binky Felstead
“Now we have made a rule that we are going to leave the phone by the door when we come in.”
Away from family life, Binky has reunited with her Made In Chelsea pals for spin-off with and . Two series of the show have aired on and they are waiting to hear if it will return for a third.
“It was nice getting back in front of the camera again and being a bit silly again with some friends,” she says.
“It was really fun, because lots of the people working on it worked with me on Made In Chelsea, so it was like being back with family.”
But it wasn’t without drama, as during the filming of the show. The pair were never particularly close in the early days, but their bickering has left Binky stuck in the middle.
“There are people in the world who just don’t get on,” she says diplomatically.
“It’s just life. They’re similar in some ways and just totally the opposite in others. And they knew they had a choice to , and it was up to them. It’s definitely more spicy than the last series.”
Given the last few weeks, how would she feel if her children wanted to follow in her footsteps?
“Oh, god. I’d have to have a proper word with them. My brother Oliver tried to stage an intervention to stop me doing Made In Chelsea.
“But life is so different now and the industry is changing so quickly. I wouldn’t feel comfortable not telling them exactly how it is. They need to realise it’s not all fun and games.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
