Tori Spelling was recently slammed by fans for charging $95 for a ‘virtual meet and greet’ in wake of the devastating coronavirus pandemic.
And on Thursday, Dean McDermott attempted to silence Spelling’s critics by posting a lengthy video to his Instagram page urging everyone to ‘stop dragging’ his wife.
‘There are numerous celebrities out there that post stuff, and influencers, and they’re out there making money every single day, but no, let’s drag Tori Spelling, let’s give her a hard time,’ ranted the 53-year-old.
Stop dragging: Dean McDermott attempted to silence Spelling’s critics on Thursday by posting a lengthy video to his Instagram page urging everyone to ‘stop dragging’ his wife over charging $95 for a virtual meet and greet
McDermott began the over four-minute video by stating that he found himself having to come to Tori’s defense ‘yet again.’
‘I’m really disappointed because she’s catching flack and being dragged for doing a live meet-and-greet.’
The actor acknowledged the criticism by stating that ‘people are upset that given the current situation we’re in and the lockdown and the coronavirus, that [Tori is] charging people money to do a meet-and-greet.’
But, to give angered fans some context, McDermott explained that the ‘virtual meet and greet’ was established after Spelling was pitched the idea by ‘a company.’
Hard time: ‘There are numerous celebrities out there that post stuff, and influencers, and they’re out there making money every single day, but no, let’s drag Tori Spelling, let’s give her a hard time,’ ranted the 53-year-old actor on Instagram
Doing her part: The reality star tried to give the public some insight on Tori’s current employment status by explaining that since ‘all the studio are shut down’ she is without work and attempting to ‘work from home’; the pair pictured in 2018
According to Dean, it was the company’s belief that a meet-and-greet with Tori would ‘bring some levity and some fun and some humor and love to this situation.’
‘But no. Instead, because it’s Tori Spelling, she gets dragged and she gets the hater coming down on her for simply doing something to entertain people, but more importantly, to provide for her family.
He then rhetorically asked his nearly 200,000 followers to explain what was inherently ‘wrong’ about Tori wanting to ‘provide for’ Dean and their five children.
The reality star tried to give the public some insight on Tori’s current employment status by explaining that since ‘all the studio are shut down’ she is without work and attempting to ‘work from home.’
Explain: He then rhetorically asked his nearly 200,000 followers to explain what was inherently ‘wrong’ about Tori wanting to ‘provide for’ Dean and their five children
Good intentions: According to Dean, it was the company’s belief that a meet-and-greet with Tori would ‘bring some levity and some fun and some humor and love to this situation’
With a finger raised to the camera, Dean stressed: ‘My wife is one of the hardest working women in the business, OK? And she is simply providing for her family.’
‘Everybody needs to back off and just take a breath and relax,’ urged McDermott. ‘I don’t know how many timed I have had to come on [Instagram] and tell people to chill out.’
Dean emphasized that Tori is ‘a wonderful person’ who will ‘always gets the haters and ‘get dragged’ because she is Tori Spelling.
He continued: ‘And this is the other thing – it used to be cancel culture, now it’s drag culture and this has to stop, too. You have to stop dragging people.’
Pick on someone else: Dean suggested that if viewers are eager to ‘drag’ a public figure for making money amid COVID-19 that they should wage war on influencers and celebrities ‘making millions of dollars doing this’
He suggested that if viewers are eager to ‘drag’ a public figure for making money amid COVID-19 that they should wage war on influencers and celebrities ‘making millions of dollars doing this.’
‘Everybody reads this and they just jump down her throat. How do you know she’s not giving part of this to charity?’ posed McDermott, before elaborating on the fan service that Tori provides that often goes unseen.
‘You know what people don’t see? People don’t see my wife spend 20 minutes with a fan in a grocery store. Or taking a phone call because she’s been recognized,’ he explained.
‘Even with her family in tow, she has time for everybody and all her fans. So stop the dragging. Stop it. It’s ridiculous. Let people be. This is a difficult time and we’re all trying to do our best. So let’s show a little love and compassion out there, OK?’
Bad timing: Tori Spelling has angered her fans after charging $95 for a video chat with her
Before signing off, the Open Range actor drove home his point one final time.
‘Stop the dragging and get off my wife’s back because we are all in this together with love and light and fun and entertainment and compassion and empathy. Stop the dragging. Now.’
The now infamous virtual meet and greet was announced to fans on Tuesday and included the stipulation regarding the $95 fee.
The 46-year-old actress originally teased the video call event by telling fans there were only 20 slots available to purchase.
‘Can’t wait to do my first ever virtual meet and greet Thursday, April 9 at 5pm PDT. Only 20 spots available so reserve your spot now. Link in my bio xoxo’ the actress wrote alongside a promotional snap of herself with more details of the event.
Only 20 spots: The actress promoted the ‘live, individual, video chat’ event which will take place on Thursday
But Tori was almost immediately met by anger as fans reamed her for charging so much for a chat during a time when many are struggling financially.
‘Damn people are dying, and you still thinking how to gain money from us… what you were and what you became…’ came one scathing comment.
Another frustrated Instagram user wrote: ‘Of course it’s $95 because during a Pandemic we all have that to spare what a bummer….’
One Tori fan expressed her genuine disappointment at not being able to meet her TV favorite because she is unemployed.
‘I would’ve done it but it cost $95. Its a bad time for me, since myself and my husband both lost our jobs. but maybe next time. Im a HUGE 90210 fan. Love u tori aka donna martin.’
A person who described themselves as one of Tori’s ‘biggest fans’ said: ‘People are doing free concerts and you are charging? How about you do a lottery and do random pics for the winners!!! Please! @shanonmaree and I are your biggest fans in Ohio’.
‘People are dying’: Fans of the star were angered and disappointed and let rip in the comments
For $95 Tori offered fans a ‘live, individual video chat’ where fans could take ‘virtual selfies together’ with the star and also the option to download the video call after it’s finished
For $95 Tori offered fans a ‘live, individual video chat’ where fans could take ‘virtual selfies together’ with the star and also the option to download the video call after it’s finished.
Meanwhile, Tori’s financial issues are still playing out in public.
Last month it was revealed her bank is asking the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Office to help them recover the $89k the star owes them.
American Express Bank is hoping to get help making Spelling and husband Dean McDermott pay back their five-figure credit card debt, which they were originally ordered to pay back in October 2016.
The bank filed the court papers requesting the Sheriff’s Office force the couple to pay up back on March 5, according to documents obtained by The Sun.
Tori owes $88,731.25 and has accrued $330.30 in interest.
Financial issues: Tori and husband Dean McDermott owe $89k to American Express, among other debts
American Express Bank has previously asked for the Sheriff’s intervention, requesting they seize Tori’s debt in January 2019 as well as August 2019.
In addition to her trouble with AMEX the former 90210 star is in hot water with Cavalry SPV I, a debt-buying company working on behalf of Citibank.
She owes Cavalry a little over $5k for another unpaid credit card bill which was ordered to be paid in September 2018.
The LA Sherrif was also asked to help ‘enforce the judgement’ in that case.
Spelling and McDermott – who live with their five kids in Southern California’s exclusive Hidden Hills neighborhood – also owe City National Bank a whopping $400k for failing to pay back a loan.
The couple are parents to Liam, 13, Stella, 11, Hattie, eight, Finn, seven, and Beau, three.
Tori and husband Dean McDermott are parents to Liam, 13, Stella, 11, Hattie, eight, Finn, seven, and Beau, three. The family are pictured on June 30 2018