News Summary
Alaysia Barton Cooper, a Knoxville-based doula and wedding makeup artist, faces allegations from multiple women in Tennessee and North Carolina claiming they were scammed out of thousands of dollars for unfulfilled services. Victims report incidents of unresponsiveness, canceled services, and financial losses, particularly affecting brides and new mothers. The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office has received multiple complaints, and legal action has been initiated against Barton Cooper, who denies any intent to deceive, citing health and technical issues.
Knoxville – Multiple women across Tennessee and North Carolina are coming forward with allegations against Alaysia Barton Cooper, a Knoxville-based doula and wedding makeup artist, claiming they were scammed out of thousands of dollars for services that went unfulfilled. The reported incidents involve brides and new mothers who say Barton Cooper took advance payments but failed to deliver promised services, leaving them devastated just days before significant life events.
At least six women have reported similar experiences, revealing a pattern of canceled services and lack of communication after payments were made. One affected bride, Talisa Roach, claims she paid nearly $2,000 upfront for makeup services for her wedding, but Barton Cooper became unresponsive weeks before the event. Roach later discovered a Facebook group where other victims had shared comparable experiences, increasing her concerns.
Another victim, Sarah Harvey, also reported being ghosted after paying in advance for makeup. When she attempted to cancel, Barton Cooper promised a refund which was only issued after Harvey disputed the charge with her bank. Schylar Hardin shared her own ordeal, stating she had paid $825 in full for makeup services for her wedding only to receive a cancellation message hours before her ceremony due to a reported hospital stay. Hardin finally received her refund last week, following inquiries made by a local news station.
Barton Cooper has claimed that she attempted to refund clients through the Square app, asserting that she is working to resolve the complaints against her. Nevertheless, the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office has received complaints from multiple victims, including Roach, Hardin, and Harvey.
In addition to brides expressing their dissatisfaction, Amanda Powell, who hired Barton Cooper as a doula, reported that Cooper missed numerous scheduled shifts, despite Powell paying approximately $3,000 for 18 shifts. Powell lodged a complaint with the Attorney General and received a refund after contacting the training school where Barton Cooper was certified. The school revealed that her certification had lapsed four years ago and described the allegations against her as “troubling.”
The situation has evoked strong reactions from other local professionals, such as fellow doula Crystal Shields, who emphasized that clients should always feel attended to and supported during such crucial moments. Legal repercussions for Barton Cooper have also begun to materialize. Kelsey Pickering filed suit against her for similar grievances, leading to a default judgment in which a judge ordered Barton Cooper to pay Pickering $1,100 plus court costs due to her failure to appear in court.
Efforts to locate Barton Cooper at previous addresses in Knoxville have not been successful, and reports suggest she may have relocated to Nashville. Further legal troubles have escalated for her, as Discover Card has filed a lawsuit against Cooper for over $2,600 in unpaid credit charges.
Barton Cooper maintains that health complications and technological issues with the Square app have hindered her ability to issue timely refunds, and she denies any intent to deceive her clients. Many of the affected women have expressed feelings of profound heartache and disappointment, with the emotional toll compounded by their financial losses and the disruption of important life events.
This unfolding situation highlights the vulnerabilities faced by consumers when hiring service providers for significant moments in their lives, as well as the urgent need for accountability in the personal service industry.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Upcoming ‘Dads for Moms’ Event in Knoxville Promotes Maternal Health
Additional Resources
- Local News Knoxville
- Wikipedia: Fraud
- Tennesseean
- Google Search: consumer fraud Tennessee
- WBIR
- Google Scholar: service industry accountability
- Houston Chronicle
- Encyclopedia Britannica: consumer protection
- NBC News
- Google News: Alaysia Barton Cooper
Author: STAFF HERE KNOXVILLE WRITER
The KNOXVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKnoxville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Knoxville, Knox County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Dogwood Arts Festival, Big Ears Festival, and Knoxville Asian Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership and United Way of Greater Knoxville, plus leading businesses in healthcare, education, and energy that power the local economy such as Covenant Health, University of Tennessee, and Tennessee Valley Authority. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREMemphis.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.
