A millionaire who doesn’t even work a 9-to-5 is facing major backlash after mocking a woman for struggling with her first full-time job.
Brielle, a recent college grad, took to TikTok (@brielleybelly123) to vent about the exhausting transition from school to the working world. In a tearful video, she asked, “In a 9-to-5, how do you even have time for your life?”
Between commuting and long hours, she felt like her days were disappearing. “I know I sound dramatic, but this is my first real job. I leave at 7:30 AM, get home at 6:15 PM, and then I’m just… exhausted. I barely have time to eat, shower, and sleep—let alone cook or work out,” she explained.
@brielleybelly123 im also getting sick leave me alone im emotional ok i feel 12 and im scared of not having time to live
♬ original sound – BRIELLE♉️
Her frustration wasn’t about the job itself—it was about how much of her time it consumed. “If I was remote, I’d be home at 5, and everything would be fine,” she added.
Many people related to Brielle’s struggles, flooding her comments with support. But one person who didn’t? Millionaire entrepreneur Jason Calacanis.
Instead of sympathy, the 52-year-old investor took to X (formerly Twitter) to mock her. “Oh princess… I’m sorry you had to commute and work and have a job and everything — it’s like so extra!” he wrote, adding a crying emoji.
That didn’t go over well.
One user clapped back: “This looks like punching down for you, and it’s kinda meh.”
Another agreed with Brielle’s perspective: “9-to-5 plus two hours of commuting is soul-sucking. More people should be saying this.”
Oh princess… 😢 I’m sorry you had to commute and work and have a job and everything — it’s like so extra!
— @jason (@Jason) October 25, 2023
pic.twitter.com/4Ioi7SMMd3
A third pointed out what Calacanis seemed to miss: “Jason, if you actually listen, this is about commuting and remote work. She has a point.”
Realizing his own work history didn’t exactly qualify him to weigh in, Calacanis later posted a screenshot clarifying that he hasn’t had a traditional 9-to-5 since the 1990s. His response? “Fair.”
But he didn’t stop there. In a follow-up post, he tried to justify his stance by boasting about his own early career grind. “I started a magazine when I was her age and worked six days a week, 12 hours a day! Built it to $12M in revenue off my credit cards—but who’s counting?”
The internet counted, alright—and many weren’t impressed.
What do you think? Is Brielle right to push back on the 9-to-5 grind, or was Calacanis just keeping it real? Let us know in the comments!
