**Welsh Entrepreneur Cuts Festival Visit Short After Harrowing Tent Encounter**
A young Welsh entrepreneur and her colleague say they were compelled to depart early from a popular South Wales festival after a distressing episode in which festival-goers followed and shouted at them outside their tent.
Lucie Macleod, founder of the Pembrokeshire-based hair care brand Hair Syrup, attended the In It Together Festival in Margam as both a sponsor and an exhibitor. Macleod, age 24, launched her now-successful business amidst the COVID-19 lockdowns, using social media—particularly TikTok—to build a loyal following. Joined by her social media manager and close friend Lucy Palmer—together known online as “The Two Luc’s”—Macleod spent much of the festival weekend interacting with customers and sharing free samples of their sought-after products.
However, the event took a dark turn when a group of individuals, reportedly fans of the brand, tracked the pair back to their tent at Old Park Farm, the festival site. According to Macleod, the group proceeded to linger for roughly 20 minutes, calling out and demanding to see the owner of the now-famous Hair Syrup while peering through tent windows.
In a candid TikTok video shared with followers after the incident, Macleod described her discomfort and dismay. “We love meeting people, absolutely, but it’s completely inappropriate for anyone to come looking for us where we sleep,” she explained. She underscored how the behaviour constituted a clear boundary violation, leaving the pair feeling “unsafe” and unwelcome at the festival site.
Faced with the situation, Macleod and Palmer informed event security and the management team of what had transpired. Citing privacy and safety concerns—and with no alternate camping arrangements available—they made the difficult decision to leave the festival before its conclusion. “We just don’t feel comfortable staying the night—we have all our belongings here, it’s our private space, and it’s not the experience we wanted,” Macleod told her online audience.
Reflecting on how the episode impacted the remainder of their weekend, the two decided to keep a lower profile, swapping branded clothing for plain attire and drawing back from promotional activities. “We spent most of our time just trying to keep out of sight, which was not what we had planned at all,” Macleod shared.
Earlier in the weekend, the pair had enthusiastically given away thousands of samples to festival visitors, spending hours engaging with a constant queue. But the overwhelming response, which at first had seemed a testament to their success and internet fame, quickly spiralled beyond their control. Social media footage posted by the brand revealed the intimidating scene as voices could be heard outside the tent, requesting products and referencing her TikTok notoriety—leaving Macleod visibly shaken.
Support for Macleod and Palmer soon flooded in online, with fans expressing dismay at the ordeal. Comments highlighted the importance of respecting personal boundaries and empathised with the decision to prioritise safety over obligations. “This is your personal sanctuary, not a meet-and-greet space,” one user wrote, while another remarked that public figures are still entitled to peace.
Hair Syrup has enjoyed remarkable growth since its humble beginnings, with its product line now gracing the shelves of prominent British retailers such as Boots, BeautyBay, Lookfantastic, ASOS, and via TikTok Shops—where the brand boasts more than 400,000 followers. Nevertheless, the ordeal at In It Together serves as a sobering illustration of the unique challenges faced by small business owners who find rapid success online.
This incident has prompted a wider conversation about the importance of privacy for public figures and the responsibilities of both event organisers and festival attendees. While brands often relish meeting their supporters in person, clear boundaries must be established and respected if such positive interactions are to be maintained.
Going forward, the experience may influence how small brands approach festival marketing and fan engagement, underlining the need for stricter campsite privacy considerations and improved support from event organisers for guest safety.
As the festival season continues across Wales and the UK, Macleod’s story is a timely reminder that while social media can quickly elevate entrepreneurs to star status, it also brings unprecedented pressures and new risks—making the need for empathy and respect more vital than ever.