Por Suerte Cookies has reportedly received the payment it was owed after publicly calling out the treatment of vendors at Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields festival. The custom fortune cookie business was among the vendors who raised concerns about their experience at the inaugural event, held on 29 August.
The festival took place at Great Park in Irvine, California, in support of women's rights. Por Suerte Cookies said it spent thousands of dollars preparing for the event but suffered a significant financial loss after making arrangements to participate. The business later publicly criticised how vendors were handled, bringing its experience to wider attention online.
'Vendors Are Talent Too'
After Ugly Oats Kitchen publicly detailed its own experience as a Daisy Chain Fields vendor, Por Suerte Cookies shared a separate account of its participation. The custom fortune cookie business said it had suffered a significant financial loss after spending thousands of dollars preparing for the festival. 'Supporting women shouldn't stop at putting women on a stage,' Por Suerte Cookies wrote. 'Because vendors are talent, too.'
The complaint drew attention in part because of the festival's stated focus. It was promoted as an event supporting women and girls, with proceeds directed to 10 nonprofit organisations working across areas including reproductive rights, maternal health and women's rights.
Getting Their Dues
According to CBC News, Por Suerte later shared an update saying it had heard from the vendor company and was anticipating payment. A Reddit post in the r/Fauxmoi community subsequently shared an image of an email on a bank transaction, with the post stating that Por Suerte had been paid.
The development appears to concern the festival's vendor management arrangements rather than evidence that Rodrigo personally withheld payment. DLS Events was identified in the reports as the company involved in managing food vendors at the festival. DLS describes itself as an event planning and food and beverage services company that works with festivals and other large events.
Social Media Callout
The payment update follows criticism from another women-owned business, Ugly Oats Kitchen. Owner Mary Chacon published an open letter about her experience, alleging that her business received incomplete information during preparations and faced financial difficulties after producing thousands of cookies for the festival.
Chacon said DLS Events had warned vendors they could face penalties if they ran out of food, prompting her bakery to prepare large quantities. She also raised concerns about staff conditions and payment arrangements.
CBC reported that the festival had more than 50 food and drink vendors. While some vendors shared their negative experience, several businesses posted positively about the event.
Payment Issue Buzz
Daisy Chain Fields was notable for its charitable focus. The event initially announced $10 million (about £7.6 million) in fundraising for 10 organisations supporting women and girls, and Melinda French Gates later matched the amount, bringing the total to $20 million (about £15.2 million). Performers, including Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski and Bikini Kill, took part in the one-day event.
The payment issue also sparked debate on Reddit, where some users questioned whether Por Suerte had first attempted to resolve the matter privately, while others argued that vendors should not have to chase companies for money they were contractually owed. Those reactions are opinions from individual users and do not establish what communications took place before the public posts.
Immediate Situation
The latest development changes the immediate situation for Por Suerte Cookies. What began as a public complaint over an outstanding payment has now resulted in the business receiving the money it said it was owed.
The episode leaves wider questions about vendor communication and event management, particularly for small businesses taking on the financial risk of participating in large festivals. However, the reporting reviewed provides no evidence that Rodrigo personally handled Por Suerte's payment or deliberately withheld it.
Rodrigo has not been publicly identified as the person responsible for the payment delay. The dispute appears to have centred on the vendor management process, with Por Suerte now reporting that its outstanding payment has been resolved.
