We need to expose the gross and violent behavior of greed and emotional corruption that is destroying our society and world with never ending dislocation of respect for the thoughts of others….we are in dangerous times. Extremely dangerous ………………
I, too, always felt this from Mel. I wondered what I was missing, but her whole "I'm a clueless mess" schtick never felt authentic to me. Another win for my built in bs detector! 😆
Just read your post. I had a different Hayhouse author plagiarize one of my courses… like word for word. When I called her on it, she claimed her assistant had done it without her knowledge. I let her editor at Hayhouse know and got no response. Reading your article really makes me question the culture at Hayhouse.
Thank you! I have a lot to say on this matter but have withheld words for legal protection. Suffice it to say I had the opportunity to pitch a book proposal to them and declined due to what I felt to be a highly toxic, dysfunctional, and dishonest environment.
You’re absolutely correct. I do not condone plagiarism or the use of AI, which for all intents and purposes. IS plagiarism. Thank you for caring and clarifying.🫶
Hmmmm…. Just so there’s no misunderstanding: the tone of your article implies that you are someone who wouldn’t countenance plagiarism, that you wouldn’t feel good about it happening to anyone. ☺️
My best friend introduced me to The Let Them Theory via Mel's podcast. I loved it! Pre-ordered her book and went all in. I only made it about 50 pages before I tapped out, finding it devoid of substance and painfully repetitive. Now I know why! I will absolutely be returning it in solidarity. Part of me wants to give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe Mel really did discover it from her daughter who picked it up from a viral post years before. But if Mel had really done her research as she claimed, she would have found Cassie's original piece at some point. This is so disappointing. What a massive injustice to up and coming writers everywhere.
Thank you again! Another clear, beautifully expressed piece. I love the words from your book, Freedom, on empathy and cancel culture. An article about what we can do to support Cassie? Thanks again. With gratitude and love xo
Dear Danni, Thank you so very much for your kind words. You made my night! I think the best way we can support Cassie is to share her story and buy her book; the best way to support any writer, I suppose. I really appreciate the comment about my book and hope you get a chance to read it someday. Take care. Warmly, Sage
Hi Sage, thank you for responding. The connection is everything to me. I was actually going to write to you. I want to order your book. Is it only available in hardcover? And thanks for the suggestion. Yes, I will order Cassie’s book too. I am a new self-published author and I know how important this type of support is. I also began to follow Cassie on IG (although I try to stay off of it) and will reach out to her. Thank you again. I love these type of encounters where there is immediate connection through writing. Sending love to you. xo
Congrats on your new book! It’s a huge accomplishment to write a book.
At this time, my book is available in hard copy only. I’m editing an audible version and a paperback with a new cover that I hope to have done by March- which means the hardcover available now, might go out of print soon.
Sending love right back to you. “What the world needs now, is love, sweet love, it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.” B.B.
I feel this so deeply. As the writer who popularized the term “holding space” back in 2015 (though I didn’t originate it and have always credited those who came before), I’ve had my work plagiarized countless times. Even though my book on the topic sold reasonably well, there are other people making far more money off it than I ever have. I watch people like Mel Robbins make more and more money while I make less and less, and I watch AI impersonate us and it just feels more and more discouraging.
Ironically, I just finished Mel Robbins’ book. This makes me physically sick. I felt the premise was great but a lot of what she said was not really inspiring, Sometimes even flawed. Now I understand. I immediately did some research & I ordered Sage’s book Freedom. I hope we can all help Sage Justice get justice.
Who are you talking about? The original author is Sage Justice not a guy. And not clear what interview you are referring to. Maybe I’m not remembering the book clearly.
Hi @TinaDerke and @NancyNorbeck. I’m Sage Justice. I broke the story of the alleged plagiarism of Mel Robbins and I wrote the original book, “Sage Words FREEDOM Book One,” which included some of the same themes found in books by HayHouse publishing like WORTHY and THE LET THEM THEORY. However, Cassie Phillips is the original author of the poem LET THEM that went viral over two years before Mel Robbins book was published. Cassie claims, and those who read both can agree, that many of the very same specific concepts and actual lines in Mel Robbins book were the same as in Cassie Phillips poems: (let them, let me, let you); which is to say that Mel Robbins book is not original but likely plagiarized from Cassie Phillips—who herself is about to release her own book entitled LET THEM in February 2025. I’ve included links to both books by the original writers. I very much appreciate you ordering my book and I hope you enjoy it.
Hi, Sage. Just FYI, @ doesn't tag/notify anyone that you mentioned them. I just stumbled on your comment by chance.
I did read both your posts here before commenting, so I'm up on the full story, which just adds to my frustration with the book. I've also been trying to post an honest review of the Mel Robbins book on Amazon, and it's not letting me, which is frustrating (though it will be drowned out in the sea of 5-star reviews anyway). This whole situation is so unjust and frustrating. Her book is NOT that good and the advice in the second half is really dangerous to people's relationships. It doesn't deserve the attention it's getting at all. I'm really glad her attempt to trademark the words failed.
Hi Nancy. Thanks for letting me know the @ doesn’t do anything. 😩.
I agree with your review. There were pieces of advice I thought were dangerous and things I thought were untrue. It’s odd that you can’t leave a review. Hmmm.
I read it, and I thought the first half or so was passably decent, but when she got into the ABC Loop and went from Apologizing into Asking, with that motivational interviewing thing that I don't think she could possibly have presented accurately, it went wildly off the rails for me. I read the rest in morbid curiosity, because the interview as she presented it would have actively pissed me off because it all felt like such leading questions, when you'd supposedly just apologized for trying to force someone to change in the first place. It felt like a great way to ruin your relationships if applied as she presented it. I think you'd be much better off going and getting that expert's book and following his actual advice (and I haven't read it, but the odds that it's not better than what she said seem very slim to me).
This situation is so upsetting! I can’t imagine how Cassie feels. I don’t see this as cancel culture at all, and I ABHOR cancel culture. This is a clear case of someone doing something blatantly greedy and morally bankrupt, and calling attention to this situation. I saw a Mel Robbins video on YouTube the other day and seeing her promote the Let Them book was so upsetting! I wish these frauds would stop being elevated. That will probably never happen, but it’s so good to make some noise!
Sage and Cassie... I just preordered Cassie's book. One way we can help Cassie with this is not only by buying her book but also by leaving reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and the sites of other booksellers. I certainly will and hope others do too.
I remember the day clearly when she commented in her IG stories about reading this "Let them" somewhere and then comes out with a book!? and showing up on podcasts pretending she came up with it? I am so happy to know that this has been exploited. I KNEW that those were not her words nor her ideas and with AI that book was not a written by her.
She thanks the people who wrote it (a ghostwriter by name in the audible credits, as well as her daughter) although we don’t see their names or Cassie’s
MR is just way too shouty for me. I couldn’t get past 2 minutes of a podcast with her. Not saying she’s bad- I’m sure she has valid things to say but just not for me.
Sage... I'm glad you're writing about this. I'm a psychotherapist and an author. While I'm familiar with Mel Robbins, I have not followed her nor have I read her books. I learned of you, Cassie Phillips, the Let Them movement, and Mel's use of "let them" only a few weeks ago. This injustice is upsetting to me on many levels. As an author myself, using other people's content and ideas is simply not ethical. It's certainly unkind. But what upsets me the most is the injustice to Cassie. I hope Mel ultimately publicly acknowledges that Cassie started this movement and that she apologies for, perhaps unintentionally, using this material for her book. I don't know the legalities of this but it is simply wrong.
Cassie... I am sorry this happened to you and I hope you pursue justice in whatever form that takes. I look forward to reading your book.
I am so bummed to hear about this whole situation with mel robbins. I had just been introduced to Let Them via a family member and then a podcast chat with mel robbins, and found it really transformational. To hear that the original idea came from a different writer and that Cassie is not being given credit, is just so disappointing.
This is what capitalistic and fear based culture does, engorges our egos and makes us turn away from opportunities to give credit where credit is due because we fear it will take us out of the limelight, we fear the sharing will take away our success. When in actuality, it would bring up another writer and give Mel the satisfaction of doing the right fucking thing.
Same! I have tried, but especially in promoting this book, I have watched her and been so "turned off." I did not know about the "Let Them" background/history, but I felt intrinsically put off by each interview. There's just something disingenuous about her to me. My instincts have been right on from the beginning, pre-pandemic.
Thank you for sharing my piece. We need to protect each other’s words.
We need to expose the gross and violent behavior of greed and emotional corruption that is destroying our society and world with never ending dislocation of respect for the thoughts of others….we are in dangerous times. Extremely dangerous ………………
Not surprising ..I have always thought Mel was over rated. Now I understand my feelings to it, I didn’t believe in her authenticity . Makes sense now.
I, too, always felt this from Mel. I wondered what I was missing, but her whole "I'm a clueless mess" schtick never felt authentic to me. Another win for my built in bs detector! 😆
Same! I would listen to Mel Robbin’s but something always felt off but I couldn’t figure out why at the time. Makes much more sense now.
I've felt that same way. Never could quite put my finger on it... Boom.
She is wildly overrated.
Just read your post. I had a different Hayhouse author plagiarize one of my courses… like word for word. When I called her on it, she claimed her assistant had done it without her knowledge. I let her editor at Hayhouse know and got no response. Reading your article really makes me question the culture at Hayhouse.
Thank you! I have a lot to say on this matter but have withheld words for legal protection. Suffice it to say I had the opportunity to pitch a book proposal to them and declined due to what I felt to be a highly toxic, dysfunctional, and dishonest environment.
You’re absolutely correct. I do not condone plagiarism or the use of AI, which for all intents and purposes. IS plagiarism. Thank you for caring and clarifying.🫶
If you haven't listened to the Conspirituality episode about Hay House, I highly recommend it. https://www.conspirituality.net/episodes/22-racism-amp-fraud-in-new-age-publishing-rebekah-borucki-dr-jay-mohan
Thank you for sharing this I’m looking forward to listening
I’m sorry that your work was plagiarized- I should’ve started with that. ❤️🩹🫂
Lol— I feel like that’s implied by the tone of your article.
Oy- oh my. Unintended for sure.
Hmmmm…. Just so there’s no misunderstanding: the tone of your article implies that you are someone who wouldn’t countenance plagiarism, that you wouldn’t feel good about it happening to anyone. ☺️
Ohhhh! Haha. Thank you for clarifying- I thought you were referencing my feelings about HayHouse
Yeah, it sounded like there was some misunderstanding! Texting with strangers is always dicey
My best friend introduced me to The Let Them Theory via Mel's podcast. I loved it! Pre-ordered her book and went all in. I only made it about 50 pages before I tapped out, finding it devoid of substance and painfully repetitive. Now I know why! I will absolutely be returning it in solidarity. Part of me wants to give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe Mel really did discover it from her daughter who picked it up from a viral post years before. But if Mel had really done her research as she claimed, she would have found Cassie's original piece at some point. This is so disappointing. What a massive injustice to up and coming writers everywhere.
Thank you again! Another clear, beautifully expressed piece. I love the words from your book, Freedom, on empathy and cancel culture. An article about what we can do to support Cassie? Thanks again. With gratitude and love xo
Dear Danni, Thank you so very much for your kind words. You made my night! I think the best way we can support Cassie is to share her story and buy her book; the best way to support any writer, I suppose. I really appreciate the comment about my book and hope you get a chance to read it someday. Take care. Warmly, Sage
Hi Sage, thank you for responding. The connection is everything to me. I was actually going to write to you. I want to order your book. Is it only available in hardcover? And thanks for the suggestion. Yes, I will order Cassie’s book too. I am a new self-published author and I know how important this type of support is. I also began to follow Cassie on IG (although I try to stay off of it) and will reach out to her. Thank you again. I love these type of encounters where there is immediate connection through writing. Sending love to you. xo
Congrats on your new book! It’s a huge accomplishment to write a book.
At this time, my book is available in hard copy only. I’m editing an audible version and a paperback with a new cover that I hope to have done by March- which means the hardcover available now, might go out of print soon.
Sending love right back to you. “What the world needs now, is love, sweet love, it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.” B.B.
I hope Cassie gets the recognition she deserves !
I feel this so deeply. As the writer who popularized the term “holding space” back in 2015 (though I didn’t originate it and have always credited those who came before), I’ve had my work plagiarized countless times. Even though my book on the topic sold reasonably well, there are other people making far more money off it than I ever have. I watch people like Mel Robbins make more and more money while I make less and less, and I watch AI impersonate us and it just feels more and more discouraging.
You’re 💯 right! Thank you for popularizing the term “holding space.” I’m sorry you didn’t get the credit you deserve.
Ironically, I just finished Mel Robbins’ book. This makes me physically sick. I felt the premise was great but a lot of what she said was not really inspiring, Sometimes even flawed. Now I understand. I immediately did some research & I ordered Sage’s book Freedom. I hope we can all help Sage Justice get justice.
Thank you! That’s very appreciated.
Here’s a link to Cassie’s book: https://shorturl.at/a72d4
Oh thank you so very much!
Who are you talking about? The original author is Sage Justice not a guy. And not clear what interview you are referring to. Maybe I’m not remembering the book clearly.
Hi @TinaDerke and @NancyNorbeck. I’m Sage Justice. I broke the story of the alleged plagiarism of Mel Robbins and I wrote the original book, “Sage Words FREEDOM Book One,” which included some of the same themes found in books by HayHouse publishing like WORTHY and THE LET THEM THEORY. However, Cassie Phillips is the original author of the poem LET THEM that went viral over two years before Mel Robbins book was published. Cassie claims, and those who read both can agree, that many of the very same specific concepts and actual lines in Mel Robbins book were the same as in Cassie Phillips poems: (let them, let me, let you); which is to say that Mel Robbins book is not original but likely plagiarized from Cassie Phillips—who herself is about to release her own book entitled LET THEM in February 2025. I’ve included links to both books by the original writers. I very much appreciate you ordering my book and I hope you enjoy it.
Hi, Sage. Just FYI, @ doesn't tag/notify anyone that you mentioned them. I just stumbled on your comment by chance.
I did read both your posts here before commenting, so I'm up on the full story, which just adds to my frustration with the book. I've also been trying to post an honest review of the Mel Robbins book on Amazon, and it's not letting me, which is frustrating (though it will be drowned out in the sea of 5-star reviews anyway). This whole situation is so unjust and frustrating. Her book is NOT that good and the advice in the second half is really dangerous to people's relationships. It doesn't deserve the attention it's getting at all. I'm really glad her attempt to trademark the words failed.
Hi Nancy. Thanks for letting me know the @ doesn’t do anything. 😩.
I agree with your review. There were pieces of advice I thought were dangerous and things I thought were untrue. It’s odd that you can’t leave a review. Hmmm.
Thanks for reaching out and sharing.
I read it, and I thought the first half or so was passably decent, but when she got into the ABC Loop and went from Apologizing into Asking, with that motivational interviewing thing that I don't think she could possibly have presented accurately, it went wildly off the rails for me. I read the rest in morbid curiosity, because the interview as she presented it would have actively pissed me off because it all felt like such leading questions, when you'd supposedly just apologized for trying to force someone to change in the first place. It felt like a great way to ruin your relationships if applied as she presented it. I think you'd be much better off going and getting that expert's book and following his actual advice (and I haven't read it, but the odds that it's not better than what she said seem very slim to me).
This situation is so upsetting! I can’t imagine how Cassie feels. I don’t see this as cancel culture at all, and I ABHOR cancel culture. This is a clear case of someone doing something blatantly greedy and morally bankrupt, and calling attention to this situation. I saw a Mel Robbins video on YouTube the other day and seeing her promote the Let Them book was so upsetting! I wish these frauds would stop being elevated. That will probably never happen, but it’s so good to make some noise!
Thank you!
Sage and Cassie... I just preordered Cassie's book. One way we can help Cassie with this is not only by buying her book but also by leaving reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and the sites of other booksellers. I certainly will and hope others do too.
That’s a great idea.
I remember the day clearly when she commented in her IG stories about reading this "Let them" somewhere and then comes out with a book!? and showing up on podcasts pretending she came up with it? I am so happy to know that this has been exploited. I KNEW that those were not her words nor her ideas and with AI that book was not a written by her.
She thanks the people who wrote it (a ghostwriter by name in the audible credits, as well as her daughter) although we don’t see their names or Cassie’s
I just had coffee with my mom, she said “hey have you heard the concept “Let Them”?
I asked her “who did you hear it from?”
“The lady with short blond hair and thick black glasses”.
I told her she didn’t create this concept and didn’t credit the creator.
Strange coincidence as I just learnt this a couple days ago.
MR is just way too shouty for me. I couldn’t get past 2 minutes of a podcast with her. Not saying she’s bad- I’m sure she has valid things to say but just not for me.
Listening to the audible was a challenge for me for the same reason.
I meant to say also that I’m sorry you had to go through that. (I had no sleep last night 😔)
Sage... I'm glad you're writing about this. I'm a psychotherapist and an author. While I'm familiar with Mel Robbins, I have not followed her nor have I read her books. I learned of you, Cassie Phillips, the Let Them movement, and Mel's use of "let them" only a few weeks ago. This injustice is upsetting to me on many levels. As an author myself, using other people's content and ideas is simply not ethical. It's certainly unkind. But what upsets me the most is the injustice to Cassie. I hope Mel ultimately publicly acknowledges that Cassie started this movement and that she apologies for, perhaps unintentionally, using this material for her book. I don't know the legalities of this but it is simply wrong.
Cassie... I am sorry this happened to you and I hope you pursue justice in whatever form that takes. I look forward to reading your book.
Thank you for your empathy and compassion.
I am so bummed to hear about this whole situation with mel robbins. I had just been introduced to Let Them via a family member and then a podcast chat with mel robbins, and found it really transformational. To hear that the original idea came from a different writer and that Cassie is not being given credit, is just so disappointing.
This is what capitalistic and fear based culture does, engorges our egos and makes us turn away from opportunities to give credit where credit is due because we fear it will take us out of the limelight, we fear the sharing will take away our success. When in actuality, it would bring up another writer and give Mel the satisfaction of doing the right fucking thing.
I hope she makes the right choice.
Very well said!
Same! I have tried, but especially in promoting this book, I have watched her and been so "turned off." I did not know about the "Let Them" background/history, but I felt intrinsically put off by each interview. There's just something disingenuous about her to me. My instincts have been right on from the beginning, pre-pandemic.
Thanks for the support