Lauren Boebert joins Cameo to sell 'pep talks' videos for $250, trolls say 'does the grifting ever stop'

DENVER, COLORADO: If there’s one thing we know about Lauren Boebert, it’s that she loves grabbing headlines—and she found a whole new way to do it over the weekend.

The Colorado congresswoman stepped into uncharted territory — becoming the first sitting member of Congress to join Cameo, the platform where fans can buy personalized videos from their favorite celebs.

Fans can pay $250 for a chat with Lauren Boebert

For $250, fans could snag a video message from Lauren Boebert herself.

“Whether you or someone you know needs an America-first pep talk, if you want to surprise friends or family with a message for a special day, or if you just want to know my thoughts on whatever’s on your mind, Cameo is the place to connect with me,” Boebert said in an introduction video on the now-inactive profile.

But here’s the kicker: her Cameo career was over almost as soon as it started. By Monday morning, November 25, Boebert had already stopped taking requests. And by that evening, her profile had disappeared altogether.

A spokesperson for Cameo, Brandon Kazimer, confirmed it was the real deal. Boebert made history as the first active member of Congress to join the app. That said, she’s not the only politician to dabble in the platform. Former Congressmen George Santos and Matt Gaetz have both been there, done that.

Santos hopped on Cameo after being booted from Congress last year amid allegations that he’d used his office for personal financial gain. Gaetz, who happens to be a friend of Boebert’s, signed up just days ago after pulling his name from consideration for Attorney General.

What do congressional rules dictate?

Of course, jumping on Cameo isn’t as simple for a sitting member of Congress as it is for your average influencer. According to congressional rules, members are limited in how much they can earn outside their government salary—$31,815 in 2023, to be exact.

Lauren Boebert — like her colleagues — earns $174,000 a year in her day job, and anything extra (like Cameo cash) has to be reported.

Kedric Payne, an ethics pro at the Campaign Legal Center, explained that the rules are there to keep lawmakers from prioritizing personal gigs over public service. “People can cross that line quickly if it’s not clear whether they’re acting in their public or private capacity,” he told the Denver Post.

To her credit, Boebert kept things kosher—at least on the surface. She didn’t use her congressional title or film in her official office, which helps avoid accusations of leveraging her public role for private gain. Her profile described her as “Not your typical Colorado Republican politician. Jesus loving, Constitutionalist, America first, freedom fighter.”

Originally her page labeled her a “politician,” but it was later updated to the “influencer” category.

Lauren Boebert faces backlash from critics over Cameo gig

It didn’t take long for critics on social media to pounce.

"I hope it includes 'Handy Tips for Broadway Shows,'" one posted on X, referring to when the congresswoman was escorted out of a “Beetlejuice” musical in Denver after “causing a disturbance" last year.

"She's a sitting member of Congress - this should not be allowed. We must look INSANE to the rest of the world!" another offered.

"Even if she paid me I wouldn't watch," someone else chimed in.

"This is ridiculous. Come on GOP," read a comment. 

"Washington is now a television reality show and it's the worst show I've ever seen time to change the channel," another wrote.

So, was Boebert’s Cameo debut a one-off experiment, or is this the start of a new trend?

“We’ll be watching to see if this becomes a trend,” Payne said, adding “If this is just a one-off where someone does this for a month or so, that’s one thing — but if it becomes a trend, where members of Congress are trying to act as influencers and get paid, that could point to a bigger problem.”

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