The Unbearable Inauthenticity of Marie Forleo and Laura Belgray, etc.(And Really, All of Us White Women)

I happened to come across this live chat on Instagram in which Marie Forleo and Laura Belgray were talking about copywriting and how to be an authentic writer. The intro is so cringey with Forleo immediately letting out a white-washed “YAS” bouncing to Bill Withers “Lovely Day,” and then continuing to announce the locations of the folks who are in attendance. Her cheery tone falls flat, and I’m not convinced. Like the yoga teacher with aggressive “posi vibes,” I don’t get the sense that she’s excited to connect with humans, but rather the dollars that will convert and land in her bank account from these locations. I feel like I’m watching a game show. Or an auction as she shouts out, “PAKISTAN, YASSS!”

Laura Belgray complimented Marie Forleo on her “authenticity” and then listed off examples of this “authentic voice,” including her use of “YASSSS,” hip hop references, and a blow horn. Unfortunately, what stood out for me, is that none of these things are authentic or unique to Marie Forleo, an upper middle class, white woman from New Jersey who has a business degree in Finance and worked at the New York Stock Exchange out of college. She wrote a book in 2008 called “Make Every Man Want You,” and that’s all I need to know to draw the conclusion that she’s a dutiful…