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Influencer Marketing Fail: Restaurants Duped Into Giving Money For Exposure, Fails To Deliver

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In a troubling trend within the influencer marketing world, several small businesses have come forward, alleging they were duped into paying for social media promotion that never materialized. Jonathan Davis, the man behind the once-popular Denver Foodie Instagram and TikTok accounts, has been accused of taking money from local restaurants, promising to feature their establishments, but failing to deliver. Many restaurant owners, including Helen Chu of Mr. Tang Korean Restaurant and Juan Luna of Metro Balderas Aztek Food, shared their frustrations with Davis, who never followed through on his commitments despite receiving payments. Chu, for example, paid $200 via Venmo in October last year but has yet to see a single post featuring her business.

Michel Polina-Sanchez, owner of Chupacabra Paletas, experienced a similar disappointment after paying $300 in July for a video that was never posted until just hours before a news story exposing Davis was aired. She made multiple attempts to contact him through direct messages, but he remained unresponsive. For many small business owners, this kind of behavior is more than a simple oversight—it feels like a betrayal, especially from someone with such a large following, which included over 500,000 across his platforms. As Polina-Sanchez put it, “It’s just unprofessional.”

When contacted by 9NEWS Investigates, Davis admitted he became overwhelmed, citing personal struggles, such as a divorce and the rapid growth of his social media presence. He explained, “Sometimes I might have bit off more than I can chew,” but he also defended his intentions, saying that he’s not intentionally running a scam and promised to take accountability for his actions. He assured the news outlet that he would contact every business affected and make amends.

Amid this controversy, Davis’s legal troubles have also come to light. He is facing a lawsuit from Jared Wigand, the owner of IMFROMDENVER, a social media brand Davis sold in 2021. Wigand claims that Davis violated a non-compete clause and committed fraud by launching The Denver Foodie brand. Despite being aware of the lawsuit, Davis has not yet defended himself in court, although he plans to do so. According to him, the clause was slipped into the contract “maliciously,” and he feels unfairly treated by Wigand.

With these ongoing scandals, Davis recently changed the name of his Instagram account from The Denver Foodie to WhatsUpDenver303, claiming the rebrand had nothing to do with the pending news story or lawsuit. While he acknowledges the frustration of the small businesses involved, the outcome remains unclear, as many restaurant owners are left wondering if they’ll ever be compensated for the money and trust they invested in his services.

This situation highlights the potential risks of influencer marketing, especially for small businesses relying on social media exposure to grow their presence. As the allegations against Davis continue to unfold, it serves as a cautionary tale for businesses considering partnerships with influencers. Ensuring clear contracts and vetting influencers thoroughly may help prevent such costly marketing failures.

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