Two food vendors at Olivia Rodrigo’s inaugural Daisy Chain Fields vendor claimshave alleged financial losses, poor planning and difficult working conditions. Both later said they had been paid in full after festival executives contacted them, according to CBC News.

Background

Daisy Chain Fields was a one-day festival founded by Rodrigo and held on August 29, 2026, at Great Park in Irvine, California. It featured an all-woman line-up that included Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski, Bikini Kill and Rodrigo herself. The event was produced by C3 Presents, part of Live Nation.

The festival drew praise for its charitable goals, which focus on reproductive rights and fighting gender-based violence. According to CBC, it raised $10 million, which Melinda French Gates matched to bring the total to $20 million for charities supporting women and girls.

Details

The complaints began in early October, more than a month after the event. Mary Chacon, owner of Ugly Oats Kitchen, posted an open letter to Rodrigo on Instagram, saying she had not been paid out of her sales, which she said was a violation of her contract.

Chacon claimed that organisers charged about $1,400 in fees and took 35 percent of sales. She said vendors were told they could face fines if they ran out of food, and that some key setup information arrived only a few hours before the event. She also said the staff parking lot was a two-mile walk from the booth, and described it as the most miserable day for her team.

A second business, Por Suerte Cookies, said it suffered a “financial loss,” barely sold anything and was still waiting to be paid. Its post alleged poor communication from organisers in the weeks leading up to the festival.

The situation then changed. On October 7, Chacon said two Daisy Chain Fields executives had reached out to discuss her experience, and that they wanted to make changes to improve vendors’ experiences next year. Por Suerte also confirmed that executives had contacted it. CBC reported that both vendors said they had been paid in full. Ticketnews noted that the exact payment-processing arrangements used at the festival have not been independently confirmed.

Quotes

Chacon said the festival presented an “enormous financial risk” for vendors, and she wrote that her business lost several thousand dollars after seeing its sales. At the time of the initial reports, Rodrigo, Daisy Chain Fields and DLS Events, the company Chacon said managed vendors, had not publicly responded to the claims, and no public comment from Rodrigo had been reported afterwards.

Impact

The dispute stands in contrast to the festival’s positive reception. Supporters pointed to its charitable results and all-female line-up, while the vendor complaints raised questions about how small businesses are treated at large, corporate-produced events.

It also highlights how responsibility can be divided. Rodrigo founded the festival and was its public face, but the event was produced by C3 Presents and vendor operations were reportedly handled by contractors, which is why it can be unclear who is accountable for fees and payment terms.

Conclusion

With both vendors saying they have been paid and executives promising changes, attention now turns to whether the organisers publicly confirm new vendor policies before any future edition. Observers will also be watching whether Rodrigo or the producers address the broader concerns about fees, communication and working conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the vendors claiming about Daisy Chain Fields?
Ugly Oats Kitchen owner Mary Chacon alleged that organisers charged about $1,400 in fees and took 35 percent of sales, that vendors were warned of possible fines for running out of food, and that key setup information came only hours before the festival. She also said she was not paid out of her sales as the contract required. Por Suerte Cookies said it suffered a financial loss, barely sold anything and was waiting to be paid. These are the vendors’ allegations as reported by the media.

Have the vendors been paid?
Yes, according to CBC News and other outlets. After the vendors spoke out, two Daisy Chain Fields executives contacted them, and both vendors later said they had been paid in full. Chacon also said the executives were looking to implement changes to improve vendor experiences next year.

Who organised the festival, and how did it perform for charity?
Olivia Rodrigo founded Daisy Chain Fields, and C3 Presents, part of Live Nation, produced it. Held on August 29, 2026, in Irvine, California, it raised $10 million, which Melinda French Gates matched to bring the total to $20 million for charities supporting women and girls, with a focus on reproductive rights and fighting gender-based violence.