Partipost faces creator backlash over alleged payment delays across SEA

Singapore-based influencer marketing platform Partipost has come under fire after content creators across Southeast Asia accused the company of delaying payments, with some outstanding dues allegedly dating back to 2024.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE first became aware of the situation last week when Malaysian content creator Kezia Zhang made a public post on Threads seeking payment she claimed was due in April. According to Zhang, the campaign she participated in had taken place a year earlier. Despite the alleged non-payment, she said she was later invited to participate in another campaign by the platform.

Responses to Zhang’s post revealed similar complaints from other Malaysian influencers, with a WhatsApp group reportedly formed to discuss recovery of unpaid fees from Partipost.

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In Singapore, content creator Deborah Kwek also shared her experience via Instagram Stories. Screenshots of the posts were later circulated online and within group chats involving micro-influencers and UGC creators in Singapore.

In screenshots seen by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, Kwek alleged that the influencer marketing platform had “refused to pay” her full invoice despite work being completed in September 2025. She further claimed the company only began making payment after legal action was threatened.

“I contemplated sharing this, but I really feel like creators need to be protected. We’re in this weird industry where we do months of work without real guarantee we will get paid and it’s all based on promises with clients or agencies we thought we could trust,” wrote Kwek. MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to Kwek for a statement. 

Meanwhile, a creator in the Philippines who goes by the handle @Mimirykat also publicly appealed to Partipost to release payment for a campaign completed in 2025. “This matter is extremely urgent for me, especially since my children are currently sick and I am relying on the earnings from the completed campaigns,” the creator said.

“The prolonged non-payment is not only unfair but has also caused significant distress, not just for me but for many other content creators who are experiencing the same issue. We have honoured our commitments and deadlines, and we expect the same level of professionalism and accountability from your company. If this issue is not resolved immediately, we will be left with no choice but to pursue appropriate legal action to claim what is rightfully due to us,” the post added.

Separately, checks by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE found that Partipost’s Instagram account appears to have been deleted or removed.

When contacted by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, Jonathan Eg, founder and CEO of Partipost, acknowledged that some creators had experienced payout delays, but maintained that the company does not intentionally withhold payments for completed and approved work.

"Partipost acknowledges that there have been cases where creator payouts were delayed beyond our usual timelines, and we understand the frustration this has caused affected creators. Our standard payment process requires deliverables to be completed and approved, alongside internal verification and finance processing procedures. Payment timelines are communicated upfront within the platform before creators accept campaign," said Eg. 

Eg said that at times, there is a high volume of enquiries from creators, particularly as the company works with "thousands of micro and nano influencers across the region".

"While response times may occasionally take longer than expected, we do work to address each case individually. Our commitment remains the same: creators who successfully fulfil campaign requirements are entitled to payment for approved work. While there have been delays in certain cases, the reasons vary from case to case, including operational, administrative, and client-side processing factors. However, we have not withheld payment for legitimate completed work," he added. 

Additionally, the CEO also said creators may continue receiving new campaign invitations even if previous payment issues remain unresolved, as campaign management and payout processing are handled through separate operational workflows.

"We have formal support and escalation channels in place for payout-related matters, including in-app support and local market teams. Campaign invitations and payout processing are managed through separate operational workflows, which is why creators may continue receiving campaign opportunities while earlier payment matters are still being resolved," explained Eg. 

"To address late payment concerns, we have strengthened internal finance processes, improved coordination across teams, and prioritised the resolution of outstanding cases. These operational improvements are ongoing as we continue working to improve payout reliability and creator experience," Eg added.

The scrutiny comes amid wider conversations in the creator economy around payment reliability and operational accountability within influencer-led and boutique digital agencies. In a separate but comparable case earlier this year, clients of marketing agency BrandTok Media also took to social media to allege undelivered content, refund disputes and unpaid commitments. 

In response, BrandTok founder Noor Hidayat Samion, also known as Sam Heedy, apologised to affected clients, freelancers and partners, stating that the company had “failed operationally” due to rapid scaling, weak systems and internal disruption. He denied allegations of intentional misconduct, stressing that the issues were not an attempt to withhold client funds.

He added that while the company accepted responsibility for operational shortcomings, it was not “hiding behind excuses”, and said efforts were being made to stabilise operations and rebuild trust through more careful project commitments moving forward.

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