Stephanie Vaquer is calling attention to something that apparently happens more often than people realize — people getting access to private phone numbers and then expecting personalized videos for free. The WWE star says those requests might sound like a tiny favor, but recording personalized content is actually part of her paid professional work.
Vaquer brought up the issue on her Instagram Story, where she shared a screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation as an example. In the exchange, a fan contacted someone whose private number had apparently been given out by a producer and asked them to record a shoutout for his daughter’s school team. The person receiving the message was understandably confused about how a complete stranger had gotten their WhatsApp number.
“Hey, sorry, how did you get my WhatsApp number? Do we know each other?”
The fan admitted they didn’t know each other and claimed that a producer had passed along the contact information.
“No, buddy, I’m a fan of yours. A producer from here gave me your contact information. Can you help me out with the shoutout?”
The person eventually agreed to help, but the screenshot included another message showing just how awkward the request was.
“I don’t know whether to tell him to f*** off or laugh… I’d rather just laugh…”
Vaquer used that exchange to make a bigger point about personalized videos. She explained that people often assume recording one quick message costs nothing, without realizing how much time performers can actually spend making them.
“It’s funny, but people don’t realize that sometimes we spend six or seven hours recording videos. That’s basically an entire day every week, and everyone thinks, ‘Making one video doesn’t cost you anything.’”
For Vaquer, this isn’t simply about whether she feels like doing someone a favor. She explained that these videos are part of her job and are paid, regulated work.
“Guys, this is part of my job. I’m not trying to be rude, but some people need to understand that, in my case, this is paid work and it’s regulated.”
Vaquer also can’t necessarily record whatever someone asks for whenever she wants. She said using her image requires permission, making these seemingly simple requests more complicated than fans might realize.
“To make a video, I have to use my image, and for that, I need to ask for permission, which isn’t easy. That’s it.”
Vaquer’s point was ultimately bigger than the example she shared. Personalized videos can represent hours of actual work, and she’s making it clear that people shouldn’t expect performers to hand that work out for free simply because they’ve managed to get someone’s contact information.
What do you think about Stephanie Vaquer explaining why personalized videos aren’t as simple as fans might think? Let us know in the comments below.
