Santina Rizzi, the former social media manager of the famous surgeon dubbed “Dr. Miami,” shares her experience of being exploited, underpaid, disrespected, and undervalued by the surgeon in a series of TikTok videos.
She speaks about the pay, office culture, and how she sees the difference between the surgeon’s persona and real character.
“You’re Gonna Wanna Sit Down”: Why She Decided to Break Their Silence
According to Rizzi, she decided to speak out because, over the past several years, she had received attention regarding her previous job.
“So, you guys want a little appetizer before Alix Earle does her Alex Cooper story? You’re gonna wanna sit down for this. Reasons why I left Doctor Miami. Guys, honestly, I would have never told this story, but every 6 months, like clockwork, this man makes a video that funnily references me.”
These constant references made her famous on the internet again.
“And it brings so many people to my account, and they’re like, ‘What happened with Doctor Miami? What’s the beef? Why do you hate him? You thought you were bigger than the program? Like, all this stuff.’ And it’s so, like, I’m like, free me.”
Eventually, she concluded that speaking out might be the best option.
“Maybe it took, like two years for me to figure it out, the only person who could free me from this situation is me, and the only way I could be freed is with the truth.”
“This Isn’t Unique”: An Alleged Story That Happens Everywhere
For her, this experience was not unique.
“So I’m literally just gonna tell you guys, and there are parts that are like, what the heck? And then there are parts that it’s just like, yeah.”
Namely, such experiences happen frequently.
“Someone’s millionaire boss treating them like garbage, exploiting them, and undervaluing them is not unique. That is happening everywhere in the world. That’s happening every day in America.”
Moreover, people were not far from the truth regarding her story.
“Theories would be coming out, and I’m like, yeah, guys, like, you’re all right. Actually, like, everyone is. Right?”
“I Made Him That Guy”: The Persona She Created
Rizzi explains why she has left the surgeon: she did much more than the ordinary social media management job.
“The reason why I left Doctor Miami is not super dissimilar from why you guys would leave your jobs.”
And here are some facts why she believed this.
“I’m not just doing my job. I’m making everyone think that this guy’s goated.”
The woman claims that she infused herself into the brand.
“I’m infusing… my personality onto him… making him hella woke… making him… a champion for women’s rights and wrongs… making him a fan of X, Y, Z celebrities.”
Meanwhile, the doctor had completely different characteristics.
“I’m giving him my personality so that you guys support him, and he couldn’t be more opposite from all of that.”
“And I Say That Humbly”: The Internet Remains to Believe the Persona
The created persona still affects people’s opinions regarding the brand.
“I was so good at my job… that there are people to this day who support him over me.”
According to her, she had made them believe something wrong.
“They’re like, she thought she was bigger than the program. I was like, girl, you only think that because I made you think that.”
“And I say that humbly. I say that humbly.”
“My Thoughts Are Not Truth”: Telling the Story, Carefully
She explained that her storytelling was based on Reesa Tessa’s example.
“Somebody I really admire… their storytelling was, like, Reesa Tessa.”
It was essential for her to admit the mistakes she had made.
“I think it’s important to acknowledge… your wrongs… and the places where you should have done better.”
Thanks to the time gap, she could talk more clearly.
“The beauty of telling the story two years later is that… I’ve calmed down a lot from the situation.”
However, her thoughts still did not represent objective facts.
“My thoughts are not true. Like, that’s just what I thought. But this happened.”
“Don’t Send Her Hate”: Draw the Line of Who You’re Talking About
Rizzi wanted to stress that the story does not include other employees.
“The story I’m telling is about Doctor Miami… and the inner workings of his management have nothing to do with any other employee.”
She also added a current employee to the picture.
“My experience is probably not her experience.”
She asked people not to direct hate toward other colleagues.
“Do not send her any hate. This is about this millionaire man and the people who manage his business.”
@sanrizzle I’m getting ur attention span ready for Alix v. Alex
♬ original sound – Santina
“I Made 40K… It Wasn’t Enough”: The Pay That Was Far from Satisfactory
In the second episode, she revealed more information regarding her salary.
“So I had never had a job in marketing, and it was kind of a crazy transition when I became his social media manager.”
According to her, she had been hired as a half-time administrator and a half-time social media worker.
“They hired me to be half administrative assistant, half social media person, and I was getting paid $25 an hour as a full-time employee.”
But later, as the videos’ popularity grew, her tasks changed.
“Within the first one to two months, the TikToks were popping off, and we decided I’d focus only on social media.”
However, her schedule remained part-time.
“My hours were basically part-time. I’d work a couple of hours and then leave.”
Thus, even though she was making a lot of money, they were not enough.
“So making $25 an hour… I made 40K… before taxes, and it just wasn’t enough to survive.”
“We Can’t Give You a Raise”: A Pattern of Denial
People often commented on raising the salary.
“People would literally be commenting for a raise… and he’d say, ‘Kiki, Kiki, Kiki.'”
According to her, she tried to obtain one, yet it was impossible.
“I’m like, nah, bro, I need a raise.”
Each attempt led to the same result.
“I go to the office manager… and I’m like… I cannot work here because I need to pay rent.”
“She was like, we can’t give you a raise. Sorry.”
They rejected every request for a raise.
“Every time I ask for a raise… they always say no.”
This situation seemed quite humiliating for her.
“It’s almost like demoralizing… why can’t I just get paid like a normal person?”
“Literally Unheard Of”: The Results of Her Efforts
Some quantitative figures demonstrate the outcome of her hard work.
“I had taken their account from about 1.1 million followers to 3.2 million followers in one year.”
Such an increase was considered unprecedented.
“Literally unheard of.”
She also helped improve the surgeon’s reputation.
“I did insanely good PR for him.”
“That’s Not a Raise”: Continuing to Do Her Job for Free
She proposed another employment arrangement in case raises are denied.
“Instead of a raise, can I come in three days a week?”
It sounded like the surgeon agreed with her.
“They were like, yes, we’ll consider that a raise.”
However, she disagrees with this decision.
“It’s not really a raise because you’re getting the same output.”
“No Healthcare… In a Doctor’s Office”: Some Additional Points of Discontent
This move entailed some additional problems for her.
“I don’t qualify for healthcare and 401k…”
For a year and a half, she did not have health insurance.
“For a year and a half…I don’t even have healthcare.”
“I Got No Percentage”: Doing Everything Else for Free as Well
Not only was her salary affected by such changes, but the other side of her work was as well.
“I was constantly asked to do more—Snapchat, YouTube…”
Her tasks also included looking for revenue streams for the company.
“Why don’t you find us a brand manager so we can make money?”
Yet the woman was left out of sharing the profit.
“He did get brand deals. I got no percentage.”
“Even though I literally recorded and posted all the videos.”
“5 to 15K a Day… And Nothing for Me”: Revenue Disagreements
Additionally, she was responsible for conducting training courses for other surgeons.
“They would charge from 5 to 15K for one day.”
None of this income was shared with her.
“I would not make any part of that.”
“It Felt Disrespectful”: Increasing Frustration
She explains how she felt when her demands were repeatedly rejected.
“Gradually it became like, disrespectful.”
“It was like, what the heck?”
Moreover, she wondered about the following.
“For someone so obsessed with money, why can’t you understand that other people have to make a living too?”
“Like Accepting a Bribe”: Confusion Regarding Compensation and Gifts
She describes how her relationship with the manager became ambiguous.
“She would buy me gym memberships, spa days, vacations…”
None of these were helpful when discussing salary issues.
“In hindsight, it was almost like accepting a bribe.”
Now, in hindsight, she realizes she should have been firmer.
“I wish I’d stood my ground more.”
The situation had a very strange power dynamic.
“It was like a weird power dynamic.”
“Who Would Get the Percentage?” Some Questions About Their Strategy
Apart from these, she recalls another issue that she found unreasonable.
“They asked, what if we ask the other doctors if they want your TikTok ideas?”
Moreover, they asked who would share the percentage with her.
“They’ll pay us, and we’ll give you a percentage.”
“And I’m like, why would you get the percentage if it’s my idea?”
@sanrizzle Guys sorry I was sleeping
♬ original sound – Santina
“Jump Scare”: Now We’re Getting into Personalities
Now, she decides to discuss some of her personality traits.
“Okay, so that is the money part. Now we’re gonna go on to the personality. ‘Cause actually, jump scare.”
As of now, Dr. Miami has not officially commented on the scandal.
