Come on guys, there’s no need to be cheapskates — especially when you’re a celebrity.
Yesterday, Filipino actor Jameson Blake essentially asked graphic designers to create a banner for his social media accounts — for free.
Ok, maybe not totally free. He did say he would give the artist a “shout out.”
Blake wrote in the now-deleted tweet: “Any graphic designers here? Who’s willing to make me a cover photo/banner for (ex. Youtube, twitch). I need a banner with the username ‘LucidExpress.’ Best one gets a shout out from me.”
“Best one gets a shout out from me.” Wow, what a privilege?
Understandably, netizens blasted Blake for his request.
Twitter user @iamyckaj shot back, saying: “And a (sic) payment also. Let’s support Filipino artist (sic) by buying their work. Not just through a shoutout.”
At first, the actor did not let up.
In another now-deleted tweet, he wrote: “I’m not asking for a (sic) mind blowing graphic art. Something basic, and anyone willing to do me a favor without payment. No pressure, I’d appreciate it a lot.”
We can already imagine freelance artists cringing.
But negative comments kept coming in.
Twitter user @svetdelacruz asked: “Why don’t you do it yourself if you just want something basic and you don’t want to pay for it?”
Blake replied: “Well, I’m not that good. If no one wants to make it, I really don’t mind.”
Another user @satcrncat urged him to pay the bill: “PAY THEM FIRST lmao” while another, with the handle @TenderJunjie wrote in Filipino: “Is it that hard to pay haha unbelievable.”
Twitter user @allweknowiscj even created a meme referring to Blake’s first tweet.
is this how you pay artists pic.twitter.com/jmmD1NHlaY
— c-j (@cj1000007) July 4, 2018
One poked fun at Blake’s request and made him a banner that looks like it was made on Microsoft Paint.
“Tadaaaaaaa~ Hope it gets picked! I didn’t put a watermark so I hope no one will get it [without crediting]. The lettering was my own work,” @JedMelican wrote.
The graphic includes Blake’s name, the “Lucid Express” text he requested, and the words “Doesn’t have money to pay” written in Filipino.
https://twitter.com/JedMelican/status/1014552741031448576
In the end, an artist apparently caved to the actor’s request. Blake eventually tweeted a photo of an artwork with all his specifications.
https://twitter.com/Hashtag_Jameson/status/1014517538699427840
User @aparadorprince wrote in a mix of English and Filipino: “Congrats on the shoutout I guess.”
https://twitter.com/aparadorprince/status/1014520830246567936
Feeling positive, Blake tweeted earlier today: “Hope everyone has a great day ahead! Don’t let negativity ruin your day.”
But @mygbaegu, another Twitter user, wanted to remind him one more time to “support artists properly.”
https://twitter.com/mygbaegu/status/1014694571534454784
Keep fighting the good fight, freelancers.
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