Allison Carroll, the 46-year-old owner of Rainbows Pottery Studio in Boston's affluent Back Bay neighborhood, has abandoned her plans to open a second location in Nantucket following a series of allegations detailed in a Boston Globe article published in February. The studio, known for its frilly decor, brightly painted ceramics, and hand-painted window displays, has attracted Hollywood stars such as Zendaya, Tom Holland, and Chris Evans. However, the recent controversy has forced Carroll to rethink her expansion.
Allegations of Misconduct
The Boston Globe report outlined accusations that Carroll created a toxic work environment, harassed customers, mocked a former employee for his sexuality, and employed a convicted sex offender. Carroll has denied these allegations, claiming that comments attributed to her were 'doctored.' Accusers have reportedly provided screenshots of text messages to support their claims.
Former Employee's Claims
Ethan Stoehr, a former employee, told the Globe that Carroll sued him in 2024 after accusing him of theft and demanding the return of his $670 paycheck. In a January TikTok video, Stoehr shared text messages from Carroll and her daughter, Maggie, who works for the studio. Maggie allegedly sent derogatory messages mocking Stoehr's weight and appearance, while Carroll sent a Salt Bae gif edited with fairy wings, seemingly to mock his sexuality. Maggie replied with further offensive comments.
Customer Complaints
Madison Parrott, celebrating her birthday at Rainbows in January, reported overhearing Carroll berating an employee. When Parrott intervened, Carroll allegedly confronted her and refused her re-entry. Parrott's boyfriend later received abusive texts from Carroll, including sexual remarks and threats. Wendy Ji, another customer, left a one-star review in 2021 after a frustrating pickup experience. Carroll responded by suing Ji for $75,000, claiming emotional distress and alleging Ji had threatened her with a gang member. Criminal charges against Ji were dropped after she removed her video and apologized.
Association with Sex Offender
Carroll's decade-long association with Andrew Giampa, a convicted sex offender, has also drawn scrutiny. Multiple women accused Giampa of harassment, including Lauren Hayden, who said he threatened to rape and kill her in 2021. Giampa had previously pleaded guilty to assault and battery for groping a woman on the Boston subway and violated a restraining order. Carroll claims she was unaware of his sex offender status until January and fired him in November.
Nantucket Plans Scrapped
Carroll had leased space at 1 Cambridge Street in Nantucket, but property owner Mike Cotton received numerous emails opposing the studio. 'We jointly decided, for the safety of the property and my family, it wasn’t a good idea to move forward after the countless emails they received from supposed community members,' Carroll told the Nantucket Current. She expressed devastation, calling the studio her 'life dream.' Despite this setback, she plans to open another satellite studio elsewhere, as indicated by social media posts.
