Fitness influencer Brittany Dawn accused of scamming clients vows to ‘fight back’

A Texas social media influencer accused of scamming clients who purchased her online fitness and nutrition program is now facing trial in Dallas, and she says she’s ready to “fight back.”

Brittany Dawn Davis, a fitness influencer and owner of Brittany Dawn Fitness LLC who has since adopted a more faith-based approach to her social media presence, is accused of misleading clients who signed up to receive her customized fitness and nutrition packages.

“[M]y time to fight back is here,” Davis, who now goes by Brittany Dawn Nelson on her social media pages, wrote in a Monday Instagram post. “…[J]ust over 4 years. [T]hat’s how long I’ve remained composed, silent, and have patiently waited on the Lord. 35,856 hours of my life that I have wept with reverence for Him as I kept hearing ‘do not speak up yet’ as I sat wayside while strangers on the internet slandered, harassed, defamed, stalked, and destroyed my reputation.”

Davis added that though she has “remained silent” while social media users “invent narratives” about her and “come after” her home, family, and life, “they have no idea who they’re messing with.”


Fitness influencer Brittany Dawn accused of scamming clients vows to ‘fight back’
Texas social media influencer, Brittany Dawn Davis, who is accused of scamming clients through her online fitness and nutrition program is now facing trial in Dallas.
Instagram/ @RealBrittanyDawn

“[T]here is a fire building within my heart – like a lion roaring on the inside of me,” she wrote. “[I]f you think you’ll never be found behind an anonymous account and be held accountable for damages, threats, defamation, and slander… think again. Christians might be gentle, but we are not soft.”

The lawsuit filed against Davis and her fitness company alleges Davis did not deliver on the personalized fitness packages, coaching, and check-ins that she promised those who purchased one of her plans.

“Beginning in 2014, Defendants profited from the sale of online fitness packages to thousands of consumers with the promise of personalized nutritional guidance and individualized fitness coaching. Specifically, Defendants’ online fitness packages offered ‘macro’ nutritional assessments and, depending on the plan purchased, daily or weekly email training and one-on-one coaching. Defendants’ online nutrition and fitness packages ranged from $92.00 for one-time macro consultation to $300.00 for three months of personalized macros, training, and coaching,” the complaint against Davis states.


Brittany Dawn Davis.
The fitness influencer is accused of misleading clients who signed up to receive her customized fitness and nutrition packages.
Instagram/ @RealBrittanyDawn

Court filings in the case further state that "the vast majority" of more than $1.5 million deposits to Brittany Dawn Davis' PayPayl account.
The lawsuit alleges Davis did not deliver on the personalized fitness packages, coaching, and check-ins that she promised.
U.S. District Court

But the packages for clients “were not individualized,” plaintiffs allege, and Dawn “failed to provide the promised coaching and check-ins” to her clients. 

“Defendants largely ignored consumer complaints or, if they did respond, offered only partial refunds. In 2019, consumers’ complaints on social media garnered media attention prompting Defendant Davis to make a video apology posted to YouTube. Defendants promptly took the website down,” the lawsuit says.

Her trial was scheduled to begin on March 6 but was postponed indefinitely. 


Brittany Dawn Davis.
“[M]y time to fight back is here,” the influencer wrote on her social media page.
Instagram/ @RealBrittanyDawn

Meanwhile, Davis has embarked on a new entrepreneurial journey as the founder of She Lives Freed – a team of 14 women who organize women’s faith retreats that cost $600 per person.

“She Lives Freed was founded by Brittany Dawn after the Lord radically changed her life in 2019, from darkness to light. Her mission is to share the gospel of Jesus, cultivate a community of sisters, and walk alongside women into freedom through the love of our Savior,” the She Lives Freed website states.

The first women’s retreat took place in Austin in January 2021. Since then, the organization has hosted five more retreats, with the next taking place in Oklahoma, according to the website.

Texas fitness influencer Brittany Dawn accused of scamming clients vows to ‘fight back’

A Texas social media influencer accused of scamming clients who purchased her online fitness and nutrition program is now facing trial in Dallas, and she says she’s ready to “fight back.”

Brittany Dawn Davis, a fitness influencer and owner of Brittany Dawn Fitness LLC who has since adopted a more faith-based approach to her social media presence, is accused of misleading clients who signed up to receive her customized fitness and nutrition packages.

“[M]y time to fight back is here,” Davis, who now goes by Brittany Dawn Nelson on her social media pages, wrote in a Monday Instagram post. “…[J]ust over 4 years. [T]hat’s how long I’ve remained composed, silent and have patiently waited on the Lord. 35,856 hours of my life that I have wept with reverence for Him as I kept hearing ‘do not speak up yet’ as I sat wayside while strangers on the internet slandered, harassed, defamed, stalked, and destroyed my reputation.”

Davis added that though she has “remained silent” while social media users “invent narratives” about her and “come after” her home, family and life, “they have no idea who they’re messing with.”

FITNESS INFLUENCER UNDER FIRE FOR ALLEGEDLY SCAMMING CLIENTS

Texas fitness influencer Brittany Dawn accused of scamming clients vows to ‘fight back’

Brittany Dawn Davis is a former fitness influencer facing trial for allegedly scamming clients who purchased her online fitness and nutrition program.

“[T]here is a fire building within my heart – like a lion roaring on the inside of me,” she wrote. “[I]f you think you’ll never be found behind an anonymous account and be held accountable for damages, threats, defamation, and slander… think again. Christians might be gentle, but we are not soft.”

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The lawsuit filed against Davis and her fitness company alleges Davis did not deliver on the personalized fitness packages, coaching and check-ins that she promised those who purchased one of her plans.

BODY POSITIVITY MOVEMENT REJECTED BY HEALTH INFLUENCER ON WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY: ‘MORBID OBESITY IS NOT HEALTHY’

“Beginning in 2014, Defendants profited from the sale of online fitness packages to thousands of consumers with the promise of personalized nutritional guidance and individualized fitness coaching. Specifically, Defendants’ online fitness packages offered ‘macro’ nutritional assessments and, depending on the plan purchased, daily or weekly email training and one-on-one coaching. Defendants’ online nutrition and fitness packages ranged from $92.00 for onetime macro consultation to $300.00 for three-months of personalized macros, trainings, and coaching,” the complaint against Davis states.

Brittany Dawn Davis

The lawsuit filed against Davis and her fitness company alleges Brittany Dawn Davis did not deliver on the personalized fitness packages, coaching and check-ins that she promised those who purchased one of her plans.

But the packages for clients “were not individualized,” plaintiffs allege, and Dawn “failed to provide the promised coaching and check-ins” to her clients.

BEWARE OF RISE IN SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTAL SCAMS

“Defendants largely ignored consumer complaints or, if they did respond, offered only partial refunds. In 2019, consumers’ complaints on social media garnered media attention prompting Defendant Davis to make video apology posted to YouTube. Defendants promptly took the website down,” the lawsuit says.

Brittany Dawn court filings

Court filings in the case further state that “the vast majority” of more than $1.5 million deposits to Brittany Dawn Davis’ PayPayl account “derived from consumer payments through Defendants’ website.”

Court filings in the case further state that “the vast majority” of more than $1.5 million deposits to Davis’ PayPayl account “derived from consumer payments through Defendants’ website,” but her legal team has apparently only handed over receipts for a total of $169,000 in payments. The state is arguing that they left thousands of clients out of their discovery.

Davis allegedly posted an apology video and then deleted it, according to prosecutors.

Brittany Dawn Davis

Brittany Dawn Davis has embarked on a new entrepreneurial journey as the founder of She Lives Freed – a team of 14 women who organize women’s faith retreats that cost $600 per person.

Her trial was scheduled to begin on March 6 but was postponed indefinitely.

Meanwhile, Davis has embarked on a new entrepreneurial journey as the founder of She Lives Freed – a team of 14 women who organize women’s faith retreats that cost $600 per person.

“She Lives Freed was founded by Brittany Dawn after the Lord radically changed her life in 2019, from darkness to light. Her mission is to share the gospel of Jesus, cultivate a community of sisters, and walk alongside women into freedom through the love of our Savior,” the She Lives Freed website states.

The first women’s retreat took place in Austin in January 2021. Since then, the organization has hosted five more retreats, with the next taking place in Oklahoma, according to the website.

Trial begins for fitness influencer accused of scamming thousands of customers

The trial of a Texas fitness influencer accused of scamming thousands of customers and misleading those with eating disorders begins Tuesday.

Brittany Dawn Davis, better known as Brittany Dawn, was sued by the state Attorney General’s Office in February 2022, accused of deceptive business practices by not delivering personalized fitness and nutrition plans.

According to the lawsuit, Davis charged customers $92 to $300 for her allegedly tailored plans and then failed to connect with them for their one-on-one coaching and check-ins, as promised.

Davis began her career in 2014 when she founded the company Brittany Dawn Fitness and quickly gained traction, the lawsuit said. She currently boasts 1.3 million followers on TikTok and about 467,000 on Instagram.

The lawsuit alleges that depending on the plan a customer purchased, they could receive daily or weekly training by email and one-on-one individualized coaching.

“However, the online nutrition and fitness plans delivered to consumers were not individualized,” the lawsuit states.

Trial begins for fitness influencer accused of scamming thousands of customers

Brittany Dawn Davis in a profile photo from her social media account.

realbrittanydawn/Instagram

Neither Davis not her attorney returned ABC News’ request for comment.

However, in court filings, Davis said she denies “generally every allegation” made by the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

According to the lawsuit, one customer only received a single email from Davis with no adjustments made to her plan. Another customer allegedly stopped receiving communication from Davis after two weeks.

Other customers received no responses or, if they did, they were generic, including phrases like “THAT’S MY GIRL! You’re killing it!” or “You’ve got this babe!” according to the lawsuit.

In addition to Davis’ alleged failure to provide coaching and check-ins, the lawsuit also states that she and her company “largely ignored consumer complaints.”

When complaints were addressed, only partial refunds were offered, according to the lawsuit.

A 2019 report from “Good Morning America” found that customers received anywhere from $50 refunds to full refunds if they signed an NDA.

Kenzie Andino told local ABC affiliate WFAA that she paid $300 for one of Davis’ plans in 2017 but says she quickly learned she wasn’t getting what she was promised.

“I knew what customized meant and that was not at all what I received,” she said. “In fact, the first document I received didn’t even have the right name on it. It was someone else’s name.”

Andino’s customized plan was a diet that had her eating just 900 calories a day. She told WFAA she sent Davis a long message addressing her concerns with her eating plan.

“I made sure to let her know that I was concerned,” she told WFAA. “My response that I got within — no lie — 45 seconds of sending it was ‘nice work babe’ and after that, I told her that I was done.”

The lawsuit also accuses Davis of misleading customers with eating disorders.

Davis posted videos on YouTube claiming she overcame her eating disorder with healthy eating and exercise, according to the lawsuit.

Although Davis claims she never accepted customers with eating disorders, at least 14 allege asking for refunds and specifically mention disorders, the lawsuit states.

One customer reported suffering from a restrictive eating disorder and that she was looking to increase her calorie intake only to receive an eating plan that was “significantly lower than what the consumer, who needed to gain weight, had reported,” according to the lawsuit.

After complaints of Davis’ business practices started circulating on social media in 2019, Davis posted a video to YouTube apologizing, but the video was “promptly” taken down, according to the lawsuit.

Davis appeared on “Good Morning America” in 2019 to address the criticism.

“I have such a heart for what I do and being in this industry,” Davis said. “I jumped into an industry that had no instruction manual. I’m basically going through uncharted territory and I’m doing the best that I can to the best of my ability.”

She continued, “I’m using this is a tool to learn and to grow as a professional and to move forward.”

The state is seeking damages between $250,000 and more than $1 million to cover civil penalties, attorneys’ fees and other costs.

The Texas Attorney General’s Office did not immediately return ABC News’ request for comment.