Savannah James is at the center of a fresh online debate over friendship, money and what happens when close friends live in very different financial worlds.
The conversation resurfaced after James and longtime friend and business partner April McDaniel discussed their travel arrangements on Boardroom’s Mental Wealth podcast on Sept. 28.
McDaniel explained that the two do not always sit in the same airline cabin when they travel together. While some social media posts described McDaniel as flying coach, she clarified that she travels business class, while James may purchase a first-class ticket.
That detail was enough to send the internet into debate mode.
Some critics questioned why James would not simply upgrade her friend to first class. But McDaniel made clear that she does not expect James to pay for the difference.
“We talk about this a lot because there’s two different lifestyles that exist,” McDaniel said. “We’re not delusional to that.”
For McDaniel, the issue comes down to staying within her own budget.
“If we’re going on the same trip, I don’t feel the need to be in first [class],” she explained. “Because that’s not in my budget.”
James also said her friends have never treated her wealth as an open invitation to finance their lifestyles.
“My friends are very respectful of my situation,” James said.
“There’s no expectation of, like, taking care of something or, you know, just having me be responsible for them.”
James added, “It has never, ever been that.”
The pair, who have reportedly been friends for around 15 years, have also built a professional relationship. McDaniel is the founder of creative agency Crown + Conquer, while the two co-host the Everybody’s Crazy podcast and have worked together through their Signed holding company.
Their different budgets have apparently required some planning, particularly around major trips.
“We’re planning out,” McDaniel said. “Like, we don’t just show up at Fashion Week week-of.”
During one flight discussed by the women, James sat in first class while McDaniel traveled business class. McDaniel later joined James to watch a movie, but the seating arrangement previously drew criticism online.
The resurfaced discussion triggered another round of reactions, with some people arguing that a wealthy friend should cover the upgrade and others insisting that friendship should not come with a financial obligation.
Former NBA player Brandon Jennings was among those defending James, writing that someone who expects first class simply because they are around wealthy friends is a “certified moocher.”
Ultimately, James and McDaniel appear to view their different spending power as something to communicate about rather than something that threatens their friendship.
The internet may be keeping score of the airplane seats. The friends, at least publicly, seem more interested in keeping their financial boundaries clear.
