Belle Delphine'S Bathwater Bonanza: The Viral Saga Behind The $90,000 Payday

Bathwater Business Brings In Big Bucks

Internet sensation Belle Delphine, known for her quirky and controversial online antics, took the internet by storm back in 2019 with a unique product offering – her very own "GamerGirl Bathwater." Fans were quick to snatch up the jars, priced at $30 (£24) each, leading to a rapid sellout of hundreds in just three days. This quirky venture earned her an impressive $90,000 (£71,000) in sales, dazzling fans and critics alike.

However, the story took a dramatic twist when Belle revealed that the entire sum was taken away just as quickly. Despite the initial success, Belle admitted she never saw a cent of the earnings due to unforeseen circumstances. "PayPal, without any warning closed my account and took the $90,000 that I earned from selling my bathwater," Belle confided in a post on X (formerly Twitter). This loss was compounded by the platform's decision to fine her $2,500 (£2,000) per violation of its policies, which reportedly applied to each jar sold.

Social Media Uproar Turns the Tide

As Belle kept her financial misfortune under wraps, she revealed her strategic silence in a candid admission, "I knew it would be a better news story to say that I made ‘so much money’ from selling my bathwater." Her decision paid off in an unexpected way when she took to social media five years later to share her experience. The post quickly went viral, sparking public outrage and pressure on PayPal.

“If I didn’t have any [social media] following, they wouldn’t have given my money back,” Belle remarked to Business Insider, exasperated by the ordeal.

Amid the uproar, PayPal eventually relented and returned the full $90,000 to Belle. The case highlighted an issue many users faced, as evidenced by the flood of comments on Belle’s post. Fortunately, this saga led to PayPal dropping the controversial $2,500 fine policy.

Policy Change Sparks Hope for Others

Although Belle Delphine's story now has a happy ending, it sheds light on the challenges faced by creators and sellers of adult-related goods online, particularly given PayPal's restrictive policies. The platform only permits sales of such goods within the US, which could have contributed to their actions against Belle, who is based in the UK.

While PayPal did not comment directly on Belle's situation, their policy change may have been the catalyst for releasing her long-withheld earnings. This resolution not only marks a personal victory for Belle but also offers hope for other content creators navigating similar waters.