A TikTok video by billionaire influencer Becca Bloom has sparked debate over whether men should pay the bill on dates. The discussion has focused on dating equality, the gender pay gap, personal safety and whether splitting a restaurant bill 50-50 is necessarily fair.
Bloom, who posts on TikTok under the handle @beccaxbloom, said equality does not simply mean dividing costs equally. Her video received approximately 1.4 million likes.
“Women live in a society where equality has never existed in the first place,”
Bloom said. She also argued that a 50-50 split could place a greater financial burden on women because they earn less. She cited the gender pay gap, saying women earn ‘80% of what a man makes for the same full-time job.’
However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics generally measures the gender pay gap using median earnings rather than comparing men and women in identical jobs.
Bloom also said women may face additional dating-related expenses, including around $400 a month for grooming and beauty products because of social expectations about appearance. She linked those expectations to the pressure some women may feel to present themselves in a particular way while dating.
@beccaxbloom What men dont understand about equality and why they should pay the bills. ♬ original sound – Becca Bloom
Personal safety was another part of Bloom’s argument. She said women can face a greater risk of violence from people they date and pointed to practices such as sharing their location with friends and carrying personal safety items.
Viewers Debate Dating Equality and Bill-Splitting
Many commenters said they agreed with Bloom.
“Her point is not invalid just because she’s rich.”
Another user commented:
“We need equity!!!”
Other viewers pointed to the cost of menstrual products and expenses associated with motherhood. Several TikTok users also said women face additional pressure to prove themselves professionally.
Some commenters questioned Bloom’s figures about the gender pay gap, saying differences in working hours and career decisions can contribute to differences in earnings. Others focused on her wealth and argued that her financial situation could make her views on splitting bills difficult for some people to relate to.
Bloom summarized her position by saying:
“Equality isn’t identical treatment. Equality is balanced responsibility.”
Image Credit: TikTok| @beccaxbloom
Commenters continued to disagree over what equality means in dating. Some debated whether fairness requires splitting costs equally or accounting for differences in income, personal circumstances and unpaid responsibilities. Others said Bloom’s argument raised questions about whether a 50-50 bill automatically represents equal treatment.
Other commenters questioned whether financial expectations should be negotiated between individuals rather than determined by gender.
The Daily Dot was unable to independently verify the claims made in the video, including Bloom’s statements about the gender pay gap, dating-related expenses and personal safety. The story is based solely on information shared by @beccaxbloom on TikTok.
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