Sereniby told PEOPLE in a statement that the ‘Basketball Wives LA’ alum was “not compensated for her post”

Draya Michele. Photo: Draya Michele/Instagram

Draya Michele is facing criticism for promoting air purifiers amid the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. 

On Saturday, Jan. 11, the Basketball Wives LA star, 39, received mixed reactions after sharing a video on Instagram to promote a Sereniby air purifier as the fires continue to burn in the California city.

The social media post shows Michele — who welcomed a baby with football star Jalen Green in May 2024 — unboxing and setting up a large purifier with her 8-year-old son Jru Scandrick in the background. 

Draya Michele setting up an air purifier. Draya Michele/Instagram

“While the unimaginable is happening with the fires in LA … air quality is so poor, toxic even,” the TV personality wrote in the caption. “I’m using the @sereniby_official air purifier to ensure that my kids and pets are breathing in fresh, double filtered air.”

She also shared a discount code that would allow buyers to receive $200 off their purchase of a Sereniby purifier.

“There’s no price on peace of mind but having it is more valuable than most worldly things,” Michele added. 

The post received an influx of negative responses on the social media platform, prompting the reality star to limit the comments.

Sereniby told PEOPLE in a statement that Michele was “not compensated for her post.”

“She and her team contacted us because she genuinely uses the product and believed it could help others dealing with the severe air quality in Los Angeles,” the statement said. “Together, we explored ways to make our purifier as affordable as possible during this difficult time. We’re a small, family-run startup that only launched a few months ago, and we’re incredibly grateful for her genuine support.”

A Sereniby air purifier. sereniby

Sereniby’s statement continued: “Like so many others, we feel powerless against the devastation caused by the L.A. fires, but we want to help in whatever small way we can. We’re donating 10% of our January profits to the American Red Cross, and we recognize there are countless urgent needs in this crisis. If financial assistance affording an air purifier can help lighten someone’s burden, we encourage those in L.A. to reach out to us directly — we’ll continue doing everything we can to support the community during this difficult time.”

A representative for Michele did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

According to Bossip, one person commented directly on Michele’s post, “Draya using the L.A. fires to promote an air purifier on her Instagram. Like she never does anything right. Tone deaf.”

Another user reportedly wrote, “At the least she could be giving them away. But selling a product at a time like this is sure proof of creamed corn for brains.”

The discourse over Michele’s post has since spread to X, where one user questioned whether victims of the L.A. fires were the proper audience for the Sereniby promotion. “And where [the f—] they supposed to put the air purifier Draya? They have no home,” the user wrote. 

Draya Michele in November 2023. Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

A fourth person explained why the post felt insensitive, writing, “Soooo ain’t nothing wrong with Draya promoting an air purifier that [is] at least 400, while ppl homes are on fire?? [The] purifier isn’t the problem, it’s the price that is.”

However, some people came to Michele’s defense, with one commenter claiming that people “just hate that girl and everything she does for some odd reason.”

Another wrote, “I must be tone deaf too because I don’t see the problem with Draya promoting an air purifier! It seems like the perfect time for an air purifier to be promoted.”

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On Jan. 11, Sereniby announced a give-back initiative to support victims of the L.A. fires. “In light of the tragic events in Los Angeles, we will be donating 10% of our January profits to the American Red Cross to support their relief efforts,” the company wrote in an Instagram post. “Our hearts are with everyone affected.”

The business sells one namesake air purifier for $629. The product is marketed toward families and is said to have a baby-safe design and use medical-grade HEPA filters. 

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautioned L.A. residents of the poor air quality in a Jan. 11 smoke advisory that read, “Potential direct smoke impact from the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst Wildfires burning has caused unhealthy air quality in Los Angeles County.”

The department added that wildfire smoke is made of “small particles, gases and water vapor” and can cause “burning eyes, runny nose, scratchy throat, headaches and illness.”

“Predicting where ash or soot from a fire will travel, or how winds will impact air quality, is difficult, so it’s important for everyone to stay aware of the air quality in your area, make plans, and take action to protect your health and your family’s health,” said L.A. Health Officer Muntu Davis, MD. “Smoke and ash can harm everyone, even those who are healthy. However, people at higher risk include children, older adults, pregnant individuals, and those with heart or lung conditions or weakened immune systems.”

The wildfires, which started on Jan. 7, have so far displaced more than 80,000 people and caused 16 reported fatalities.