The internet is once again on fire. This time, TikTok personalities and ex-co-stars Lacy and McKinley Richardson are acting out a public meltdown for the ages, and it’s all going down on the X platform (formerly Twitter). What started as mysterious subtweets and cyber hostility has boiled over into an unfiltered, brutal online feud, complete with accusations of clout-chasing, manipulation, and, yes, alleged sex work.
“CLICK BAITING?”: McKinley Goes Nuclear
On May 17th, McKinley Richardson sent a string of bombshell tweets that peeled back the gold-plated influencer facade and exposed a strained dynamic that fans had long speculated about. In a searing post that was clearly aimed at Lacy, she wrote:
“CLICK BAITING? last thing i’ll say then if thats the case, why’d you hit me up, why’d you do a stream with me, why am i the snapchat thumbnails, and why do you only speak to me when a camera is on? all i’m doing is defending myself. i’m done, trust me i don’t need to use ppl.”
In the world of influencers, these aren’t jabs. McKinley is essentially accusing Lacy of exploiting their interactions for views, reach, and income, especially on livestreams and edited material like Snapchat thumbnails, which are likely to become monetized and algorithm-based. The implication is brutal. Lacy speaks to McKinley only for influence.
Lacy’s Chilling One-Word Reply: “$44”
Lacy, famously ambiguous but no less fatal, replied with just one tweet:
“$44”
The fans were quick to start speculating about the meaning. Is it a reference to an envelope full of cash? A dig at OnlyFans-style monetization? A virtual slap in the face? Nobody is quite sure, but the suggestion was patent in a social media economy where a dollar is a data point. Lacy estimates McKinley is worth an emotional or professional $44.
The subtweet stunned both fandoms and the drama didn’t stop there.
Sex Work Accusations and IRL Hypocrisy
A, not being one to keep quiet, shot back in a second tweet:
“yeah u cooked me fr.. your ‘girl’ has a passes and sells exclusive content… looking out for you, but don’t act like that when you literally stream w the biggest irl whores.”
Break it down.
McKinley is addressing what appears to be a close friend of Lacy, possibly a girlfriend or female colleague, and suggesting she sells adult content or access via “passes,” possibly the monikers of sites such as Fanfix, Patreon, or OnlyFans. The tweet instantly shifts from defense to accusation of hypocrisy, insinuating that Lacy is surrounded by women who are “the biggest IRL whores,” possibly about in-real-life streamers with sexually explicit content or too much public exposure.
What Sparked the Drama?
The cause of the drama is still unknown, although fans cite a recent collab stream that McKinley and Lacy did together despite tension being reportedly present. Some blame Lacy for being cold or hostile behind the camera but friendly on camera. Others think McKinley may have gotten upset that she was being utilized for clickbait title and thumbnail promotion without credit or compensation.
Neither side has offered a formal explanation yet, but the snap allusions and live-streaming suggest that money, fame, and personal betrayal are all intertwined in this very public meltdown.
Clout or Catastrophe?
While others call the feud a “clickbait performance art” prank, the coarse manner of McKinley’s tweets and Lacy’s vicious retort feel ever so slightly too real for staged histrionics. The world of influencers is merciless, and overnight besties turned sworn enemies is not so rare. But the language, tone, and personal information flying back and forth in this fight is a slow-rising escalation.
One thing is for sure. This beef is not a joke, a skit, or a marketing campaign. It’s a scorched-earth war between two creators who have a precise understanding of how to play the algorithm and how to end each other’s careers.
Who’s Winning?
While the fans remain divided, Team Lacy and Team McKinley, it’s X who could win big here as the engagement numbers go through the roof and the screenshots circulate at lightning speed. Meanwhile, the viewers are left wondering if this is the final nail in the coffin or just an episode in the endless influencer circus.
Either way, something’s guaranteed. No one’s shutting down.
Want more? Stay tuned. Because if history has taught us anything, it’s that influencer beef always comes with receipts.
