Yeah, a reaction doesn’t have to be an approval of something. Satire exists, malicious complaince exits, parody exists, and in more serious situations, silence or compliance can absolutely be resentful or malicious.

Obviously none of us know the motive of the editor, not exactly at least. I actually imagined it to be a critique (intentional or not), that money can actually bring vain people into your life. It does act as a nice rebuke of the person’s request, changing them to fit the role, instead of their partner.