Vendor sends open letter to Olivia Rodrigo over unpaid fees and poor management
The Daisy Chain Fields festival, celebrating Olivia Rodrigo’s music and championing causes for women, was billed as a spectacular, empowering triumph. Set in Great Park in Irvine, California, the single-day event drew major names like Chappell Roan, Bikini Kill, Doechii, and Garbage, all while raising significant funds for causes dedicated to women and girls.
The festival’s philanthropic mission was ambitious. Rodrigo announced that the event would contribute $10 million to its non-profit partners, and the event successfully amassed a total of $20 million for organizations including Baby2Baby, Planned Parenthood, and the National Women’s Law Center.
But behind the shimmering headlines and the record-breaking fundraising totals, a different story unfolded for those working the ground. One of the food vendors who participated in the event felt the experience was far from seamless, leading them to share an open letter with Rodrigo regarding management and compensation.
Mary Chacon, owner of Ugly Oats Kitchen, shared her experience on Instagram, detailing how she and her team faced significant operational challenges. She noted that two days after the festival concluded, they had not been paid out for their sales, citing a violation of their contracts.
While she expressed gratitude for the event—calling it a “privilege” and acknowledging how Rodrigo’s music had helped her through difficult times—Chacon felt the focus on the $20 million raised overshadowed the experience of the vendors. She argued that the success felt like it was achieved at the expense of the women entrepreneurs who were on the ground.
The operational friction was palpable. Chacon detailed how the vendors were pressured into making large purchases last minute for appearances, and how setup information was often withheld until just hours before arrival, causing logistical struggles on the day.
The experience reportedly took a particularly rough turn when the vendors faced operational chaos. Chacon recounted that the layout appeared to favor dessert vendors over meal vendors, setting everyone up for difficulty. Furthermore, staff were not properly briefed on where to locate food and drink, which ultimately led to some team members experiencing heat exhaustion and vomiting while trying to find sustenance.
“It was the most miserable day my staff and I have experienced as part of Ugly Oats,” Chacon stated in her letter. She stressed that recouping the losses from that single event would take months, hoping that the experience of the women entrepreneurs on the ground would influence future events.
The story serves as a stark reminder that even the most celebrated and well-funded events require careful management and equitable treatment for all who contribute to their success.
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