Zara Larsson accused of taking free jewellery and never returning it
Photo: Reuters
A dispute involving Swedish pop star Zara Larsson’s wider team has gained traction online after a small jewellery maker alleged that her designs were taken without payment following a Coachella opportunity. The claim surfaced through a TikTok video posted by a creator known as JewelzbyMealz, who described her experience working with a stylist said to be linked to the singer.
According to the creator, she was approached ahead of the COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL in California with a request to provide jewellery pieces for potential use during the high profile event. She agreed to send several items without a formal contract, believing they would be worn during festival appearances and offer valuable exposure for her brand.
The situation reportedly shifted after the event. The creator claimed that the pieces were not used as expected and were instead given away. When she followed up about compensation or the return of the items, she alleged that the stylist informed her there would be no payment, framing the arrangement as one based on exposure rather than financial exchange. Communication is said to have stopped shortly after.
She estimated the value of the jewellery at around $500 and acknowledged in her video that not securing a contract had been a mistake. Despite that, she maintained that the handling of the arrangement was unfair and reflective of a broader issue faced by independent creators working with larger industry figures.
@jewelzbymealz @Zara Larsson lmk if you’ve ever seen these pieces!!😭😭 Following on from my last video, I wanted to share my full experience with a stylist recently to provide some insight into this side of the industry! I do take responsibility for not making them sign a contract, but there’s more to the story than that. What do u guys think…? I hope you can understand where I was coming from with the possibility of my designs being worn my one of my favourite artists, I didn’t think that this could happen! ☹️ I hope that through sharing this I can encourage other small brands and independent designers to always make contracts and ONLY work with people who truly value your work!! Thank u to everyone who gave me advice and support on my last video, I definitely won’t be making these mistakes again🥲🤞🏻 I read some really insightful comments that I hadn’t considered before - e.g. if one of us works for free, it makes it harder for EVERYONE ELSE to get paid fairly for their work. so we all need to put our foot down!! As I said in the video, I’m not posting this to encourage anyone to send hateful messages towards the stylist, and I’m not naming them for that reason!! I tried to resolve it privately but have been ignored for weeks, so i’m just sharing my experience. Let me know what u guys think 💭 #zaralarsson #stylist #jewellery #fashionindustry #midnightsun
♬ original sound - Jewelz By Mealz
The video quickly gained attention, drawing more than 14,000 likes and hundreds of comments on TikTok before spreading to Reddit, where it generated further discussion. Online reaction has largely sided with the jewellery maker, with many users criticising the idea of established industry teams requesting unpaid work from smaller businesses.
Some commenters expressed scepticism about whether Zara Larsson herself had any direct involvement, suggesting that such situations are often handled by stylists or intermediaries without the artist’s knowledge. Others pointed to similar stories shared across social media, where creators claimed they were asked to provide products for free in exchange for visibility.
The growing online fallout has included calls for clearer boundaries and professional agreements when collaborating with influencers or celebrity teams. Users have also urged small business owners to insist on written contracts to protect their work and avoid similar disputes.
As of now, there has been no public response from the stylist mentioned or confirmation from Zara Larsson’s official team regarding the allegations.