A wave of backlash against Happiest Baby, a baby brand, has resulted from its allegedly asking influencer Brooklyn Larsen to return a bassinet. The company is being accused of extreme insensitivity, given that Larsen's newborn child had recently died. This meant that Larsen couldn't deliver on posting content promoting the brand for obvious reasons.
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According to the Daily Mail, Brooklyn Larsen, who is a So You Think You Can Dance alum, had received a $1,700 SNOO bassinet from Happiest Baby. The influencer and the baby brand had arranged a content creation deal, which involved Larsen's newborn baby. However, tragedy struck Larsen's family as her newborn sadly died back in November 2024.
According to Larsen's sister, McKenna Bangerter, Larsen wrote an email informing the brand of her tragic loss. The brand, shockingly, then allegedly asked Larsen to give the bassinet back. Bangerter alleged this by posting it on her Instagram stories, which sparked a backlash against Happiest Baby.
"Namely Happiest Baby - who sent my sister a baby bassinet after my sister said she would tag them in content with her newborn baby," Bangerter wrote. "After sending an email regarding the content she wasn't able to send - because her baby passed away - they demanded she send the bassinet back. the empty bassinet, still sitting next to her bed."
"I want you to think about why she couldn't deliver the content. I'm absolutely disgusted by a BABY brand who promotes support for moms & babies - that doesn't have the decency to give her the space to grieve the bassinet she never got to fill."
Backlash And Statement
Following Bangerter's post about her sister, Happiest Baby's social media posts have been flooded with angry users. They were all left astonished by the alleged interaction. This included other influencers, including Witney Carson. "Very disappointed in your brand and the way you have handled the situation with Brooklyn," Carson wrote. "Be better for future mothers. Lost me as a customer and supporter."
Following the reveal, and amid the backlash, a Happiest Baby rep shared a statement with PEOPLE.
"When we learned of Rocky's passing in December, we were heartbroken for Brooklyn and her family," the statement reads. "We immediately sent flowers and our sincere condolences, and there was no mention of anything else. We just wanted her to know we were thinking of her"
According to the statement, one of the baby brand's team members offered to take the bassinet to prevent a possible grief trigger.
"We know that many parents who suffer such unimaginable and tragic loss often find that the sight of an empty bassinet or crib can become a painful reminder of their grief." the statement continued. The statement claimed some parents decided to get rid of the bassinet, which prompted their offer.
Happiest Baby stated that proposing that was a mistake and that they have directly apologized to Brooklyn Larsen. Furthermore, they claim they have taken "corrective action and coached our team." That way, any future approach can be more "sensitive to each family's individual grieving process."
Bangerter would debate this claim, alleging in TikTok comment that the brand sent six different emails "demanding the bassinet back." The content of these emails has not been made public.
