A millionaire has been called out after mocking a woman who was in tears after her first 9 to 5 job.
The kicker? He doesn't even work 9 to 5.
As previously reported, Brielle, a recent college graduate who goes by the TikTok username @brielleybelly123, shared her candid thoughts about the challenging transition from academia to the corporate world in a video posted on the platform.
The overlay text read: "QOTD (question of the day) in a 9-5 how do u have time for ur life."
Speaking through tears, Brielle said: "I know I'm probably just being so dramatic and annoying, but this is my first job, like my first 9 to 5 job after college. I'm in person, and I'm commuting in the city, and it takes me f***ing forever to get there. There's no way I'm gonna be able to afford living in the city right now, so that's off the table."
Watch Brielle's TikTok below:To make it to her job on time, Brielle explained that she boards the train at 7:30AM and doesn't return home until 6:15PM at the earliest. By the time she's back, she laments that there's hardly any time for productive or enjoyable activities. "I want to shower, eat my dinner, and go to sleep. I don’t have time or energy to cook my dinner either. I don’t have energy to work out, like, that’s out the window," she shared.
Brielle clarified that her dissatisfaction wasn't with the job itself, but with the lifestyle that an eight-hour workday demands. "If it was remote, you get off at 5 and you’re home, and everything’s fine," she remarked.
The internet rallied around Brielle, offering support for her relatable struggles. However, one person who chose a different path was Jason Calacanis, a 52-year-old millionaire with a diverse portfolio of entrepreneurial endeavors.
Known for his investments in over 300 startups, Calacanis's net worth is the subject of varying reports, with estimates ranging from $60 million to $400 million. What is clear, though, is that he is not someone confined to a 9 to 5, Monday-to-Friday desk job.
Nevertheless, Calacanis took it upon himself to comment on Brielle's situation, dubbing her a "princess" in a post shared on X. "Oh princess… I'm sorry you had to commute and work and have a job and everything — it's like so extra!" Calacanis wrote, accompanied by a crying-face emoji.
People were quick to clap back at Calacanis, as one person wrote: "This looks like punching down for you and its kinda meh."
A second said: "I agree with her. 9-5 plus 2 hours of commuting is soul sucking, and it’s weird that more people don’t voice what she does."
A third added: "Jason if you listen closely this is about commuting and remote work. She has a point. Forcing people to spend 2 hours a day in a car or on a train sucks. I’m glad this generation is pushing back."
Calacanis attempted to clarify his stance with a screenshot of a proposed community note for his tweet, which stated: "Jason Calacanis has not had a traditional 9-5 job since working as a reporter in the 1990s." In response to this, Calacanis conceded: "Fair."
In a slightly roundabout and self-congratulatory manner, the millionaire tried to justify his position, tweeting: "Serious note, I started [a] magazine when I was a journalist and worked six days a week 12 hours a day! Built it to $12m in revenue off my credit cards when I was her age — but who's counting."
