Social media influencer accused of scamming thousands plans Fort Worth spiritual retreat
A social media influencer accused by the state of scamming thousands of customers is planning a “spiritual retreat” in Fort Worth.
Brittany Dawn Davis, who lives in Fort Worth, sold online fitness packages to thousands of consumers through social media and her business, Brittany Dawn Fitness. The packages ranged in cost from $92 to $300 and promised personalized training and coaching. However, according to a Deceptive Trade Practices Act lawsuit filed by the Texas Attorney General’s Office on Feb. 1 in Dallas County, the plans were not personalized and caused more harm to customers than good.
Davis could not immediately be reached for comment.
The essential component to Davis’ fitness platform, according to the lawsuit, was the promise of individual coaching and customized diet plans. Most customers received generic plans from Davis, the suit says. Some reported the diet plans Davis sent them via email provided inadequate nutrition.
At least 14 customers who sought refunds from Davis mentioned they had an eating disorder in their complaints, the lawsuit says, and they chose Davis’ program specifically because Davis claimed to have “special training to address eating disorders.” However, her plans at times worsened customers’ disorders, the suit says.
One person wrote in her initial survey that she had an eating disorder, horrible body image and was underweight. Davis’ “customized” plan for the customer was for a low-calorie diet that would only be suitable for someone who needed to lose weight, according to the lawsuit.
Davis largely ignored consumer complaints that began piling up on her social media platforms, where she has thousands of followers, the lawsuit says. In 2019, Davis posted an apology video to her 250,000 YouTube followers and took down her fitness website, the suit says. In the Youtube video, she said she needed more help with running the fitness program and she would issue refunds to customers.
Davis also apologized on “Good Morning America,” according to WFAA-TV, saying she was “doing the best that I can to the best of my ability.”
Davis continues to post fitness and diet advice on to her approximately 1 million TikTok followers and half-a-million Instagram followers.
The Attorney General’s Office asks in the suit for Davis to pay between $250,000 and $1 million in damages.
While Davis no longer appears to be selling fitness plans, a new website promotes her new product — spirituality.
According to her website, brittany-dawn.com, Davis plans to host a retreat in Fort Worth in April that will “be a gospel centered day with other God-fearing women.”
“I, along with several other powerhouse speakers, will be sharing our hearts on preparing for difficult seasons, staying faithful on your walk with the Lord, and how our seasons of difficulty often lead to our Kingdom calling,” the website says.
The retreat costs $125 per person, the website says. The cost covers retreat-goers’ entry and dinner.
This story was originally published February 8, 2022 at 11:18 AM.
