- Hype House is one of the best-known and longest-running content companies.
- A leaked contract shows new members must agree to join the house.
- The document also includes a list of 11 “internal rules” that they must follow.
Social media collectives often market themselves as revolving doors for talent to collaborate freely — but that doesn’t mean they don’t have rules.
Hype House, one of the longest-running TikTok groups, has several internal rules — 11 to be exact — that new members must agree to when joining. The rules appear in a contract recently shared with Insider by a manager representing active members of Hype House. They asked to remain anonymous out of fear of potential retaliation.
In the contract, talents and guests are required to sign several non-disclosure, non-discrimination, confidentiality and waiver and release clauses. These terms are intended to protect the Hype House from all damages caused by the Los Angeles mansion and grant the Hype House Group and its de facto owner, Thomas Petrou, the rights to all content filmed on the property.
Hype House was founded in 2019 by Petrou and influencers Chase Hudson and Daisy Keech.He left in 2020 and sued Petrou and Hudson over brand ownership). While the group was founded by 20 TikTokers, it currently appears to have around seven active members. The members lived in a Spanish-style mansion outside Los Angeles, and in exchange for housing, they were asked to meet other Hype House members. As the star power of its early members grew, so did the Hype House brand. Some of its most famous past members include TikTokers Addison Rae, the D’Amelio sisters, and the Larray and Lopez brothers. Earlier this year, Netflix released the reality series “House of Hype,” which aims to document the inner workings and relationships between members.
While the collective isn’t a management company, leaked contracts suggest it has strict rules for those who live in and walk through the mansion — including an actual list of “rules of the house.” Some rules repeat the conventions of confidentiality and non-disparagement, including protecting the TikTok brand from liability for any harm and damage to property, while others lean more toward social codes of conduct, such as prohibiting drug use. There is also a special rule that asks those who sign the agreement not to discuss the details of the agreement with anyone.
Two lawyers with experience in social media, who reviewed the contract, said they believed it was one-sided in favor of Hype House.
“This contract is completely unbalanced,” said Los Angeles attorney Gillyn Hess-Weldon, who represents influencers and others in the entertainment industry. “Most contracts will say, ‘Hype House has the following duties…’ but Hype House’s standard terms and their obligations are not in the contract at all. That’s unusual.”
Legal experts say the contract protects Hype House and doesn’t say how Hype House will serve its members
Two lawyers interviewed by Insider noted a lack of “standard clauses” they’re used to seeing in industry contracts.
“It doesn’t have nearly all the standard terms you’d expect to see in a standard influencer agreement,” said Jon Pfeiffer, an entertainment attorney with many of his clients well-known on social media. “First, there is no compensation. Second, all intellectual property rights are transferred to Hype House.”
“This is a contract that waives all rights you have in any way with Hype House. All four, that’s why it’s unusual,” Hess-Verdon said of NDAs, non-disparaging, secrecy and waiver-and-release agreements. “They can edit and disparage you, even false ones, and you have no recourse. right.
For those who sign contracts or future Hype House members, the only perks appear to be free housing and the chance to increase their social media following.
Lawyers also said they were concerned some clauses in the contract were too broad. In several sections, Hype House is asking signers to waive their time spent in the house and any claims they may make afterward.
“I unconditionally and irrevocably discharge and discharge Hype House from all claims, causes of action, suits, charges, debts, dues, amounts, attorneys’ fees and costs, accounts, bills, deeds, contracts, torts, agreements, fees, wages, Indemnity, Undertaking, Damages, Judgment, Right, Demand or otherwise (“Claim”),” the section says.
Hess-Verdon specifically pointed to the language used in a statement requiring the talent to “take full responsibility for any and all personal and/or property damage or risk of personal injury suffered within the house”. This includes any “results of an accident, injury or event or in relation to the Hype House Group”.
“You waive all rights to any claim you have,” she said. “Everything. All known and unknown future demands, this is too much.”
Both Hess-Verdon and Pfeiffer said they wondered if this was the only contract Hype House offered, or if there was a separate contract outlining the group’s duties and responsibilities.
Petrou and Hype House Group did not respond to Insider’s multiple requests for comment. But the manager who provided the contract to Insider said it was the only contract their client received when they joined Hype House, and the client had signed the contract before consulting them.
“If it’s the only contract an individual influencer rep has received, then they’re also conceding the ball,” Pfeiffer said. “There’s too much left to say…I can’t get the client to sign this agreement.”
11 “House Rules” for Hype House
Here’s what the leaked contract says about Hype House’s “rules”:
- “Any third party, guest or invitee brought to the House as a guest must sign a standard non-disclosure agreement provided by Hype House.”
- “No harmful, illegal, drug-using or seriously offensive activity or nuisance shall be conducted on the premises, premises and premises. Illegal activity includes, but is not limited to, violations of the California Penal Code of any related network Hype House reserves the right to determine any equipment, noise, Whether the smell or activity constitutes a nuisance.”
- “Repairs or any damage to the Home, its contents, other contents, landscaping or common property caused by you or your guests shall be done at your expense and as soon as reasonably necessary. Hype House reserves the right to make Such repairs and invoices for such repairs are provided to you, and you shall pay the cost of such repairs within five (5) business days of receipt of the invoice. No changes may be made to the house without the express written consent of Hype House.
- “When you live in a house, it should always be in good condition, hygienic, clean and free of litter and debris.”
- “If you wish to have more than 2 guests and invitees in the house for more than 1 hour, due to COVID-related restrictions and the general safety of others in the house, you must first obtain written consent from Hype House.”
- “You will keep your contact information correct and up to date at Hype House.”
- “You shall hold all confidential information received under this Agreement or by others in the House of Representatives, including, without limitation, the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the House Rules, and any other information about others in the House of Representatives that has not been publicly known personally and professionally, Strictly confidential.”
- “You may not communicate or disclose, directly or indirectly, or use any Hype House or other for your own benefit or for the benefit of any other person, company, corporation, association, corporation or other entity without the express written consent of Hype House Confidential information communicated to you or otherwise learned or obtained by you in the course of contact with Hype House by a guest, or any other person in the house, either personally or through any other service, without the express writing of Hype House Agree that Hype House or others residing in the house may not be used for marketing purposes.”
- “You shall not disparage Hype House, its officers, members, affiliates, successors, assigns, or any family member of Hype House or a guest of Hype House, or other guests living in the house, or any guest of the house, Or make any public comment that could reasonably be expected to cause embarrassment, criticism, or financial loss or loss to anyone.”
- “You agree, understand, acknowledge and accept that your photos and/or videos may be used for public communication or advertising. Any image with or without yourself and your name or any of your pseudonyms may be shared publicly . You also agree that you will not receive any compensation for any videos and/or photos mentioned here.”
- “You unconditionally and irrevocably discharge and discharge Hype House from all claims, causes of action, suits, charges, debts, dues, amounts, attorneys’ fees and costs, accounts, bills, deeds, contracts, torts, agreements, fees, wages, Indemnity, undertaking, damages, judgment, right, demand or otherwise (“Claims”), known or unknown, law or equity, accrual or non-accrual, contingent or non-contingent, arising out of until this Agreement is fully At any time up to and including the date of execution, whether or not it can be proven that as of the date this Agreement comes into force, whether common law or statute, whether now recognized or not, the guest or any person has passed, passed, or has been in their (including but not limited to their respective heirs, executors, personal representatives, administrators, assigns and spouses) may or may object to Hype House in any way.”
