‘Do better please:’ Demi Lovato kickstarts an online debate about frozen yogurt and eating disorders
April 27, 2021
Singer Demi Lovato is “sorry not sorry” for speaking up about a Los Angeles frozen yogurt shop.
The Bigg Chill has an abundance of sugar-free and dietary items that provoked the singer. Lovato has been candid with her past addictions and history with eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia.
Frozen yogurt is particularly personal to her — it’s often advertised as having reduced calories and being beneficial for dietary purposes, contributing to her harmful eating practices. The dispute began when Lovato exposed the frozen yogurt shop on her Instagram story.
“Finding it extremely hard to order froyo from @thebiggchillofficial when you have to walk past tons of sugar free cookies/other diet foods before you get to the counter,” Lovato wrote. “Do better please.”
Her rant didn’t end there. Lovato made a second story defending her creation of the hashtag, “Diet Culture Vultures.”
“So I think I’m gonna have to make that hashtag a thing,” the ex-Disney star wrote. “I will be calling harmful messaging from brands or companies that perpetuate a society that not only enables but praises disordered eating.”
Lovato posted direct messages on her story between her and The Bigg Chill. The shop defended its products and expressed how the star’s assumption that they are “diet vultures” simply isn’t true. She then accused the small business of “making excuses,” and that it does not provide an alluring experience for people with different needs such as those with diabetes, vegan diets or eating disorders.
The singer proceeded to make suggestions to the brand on how it can be more inclusive with its products. Lovato proposed that it should label its products more transparently as the messaging can be misleading. Clearer labeling on food products can help customers easily differentiate between what products meet their specific needs.
Lovato received a slew of negative responses following her public debacle. Most believed that she should have exposed the culture of diet vultures without targeting a specific local business to her millions of followers. Some believed she was being self-centered and a bully. Many people on Twitter proceeded to make fun of the situation by posting harmful remarks in the spirit of dark humor to an already vulnerable Lovato.
The Bigg Chill posted a photo to their Instagram account that has since been deleted. The post showcased a display of baked goods with the branding “Eat Me Guilt Free,” which the singer used to her benefit. Lovato once again took to her Instagram story to further defend her stance as well as to express how she felt about all of the negative feedback she received.
“This screams diet culture and I won’t be gaslit by the media or anyone else that says otherwise,” Lovato wrote on her Instagram story adjacent to the controversial photo. “I don’t need to feel guilt free about eating anything. This was what I was talking about this is directly from their own page. @thebiggchillofficial.”
Lovato posted an eight-minute video of her apologizing for how she initially responded to her experience at the frozen yogurt shop on her Instagram. She still believes in her viewpoint against the harmful branding of sugar-free and diet products that led her to call out The Bigg Chill. However, she acknowledges that she should’ve handled the whole situation differently. Lovato also gave a brief history of her personal relationship with addiction and eating disorders.
“Overcoming my addictions, my drug addictions, was because I can walk away from that and never touch it again for the rest of my life,” Lovato said. “But I have to eat three times a day. This is something that will be with me for the rest of my life. I left that yogurt store and didn’t get the yogurt that I wanted,” she continued. “And then I had a hard time the rest of the weekend, to be totally transparent and that’s probably something that nobody wants me to say, but I’m human and I talk about my struggles and I’m passionate. So, I’m sorry that I got the messaging wrong. I’m sorry that I may have disappointed some people.”
Despite all the backlash, the star earned some support from fans.
“People trying to cancel demi lovato for lashing out at a trigger to her illness even after she apologized for her approach is the reason why cancel culture is a whole joke, y’all should be worrying about actual discriminatory problematic celebs, it’s embarrassing,” @theartofdems, a Demi Lovato fan account, wrote on Twitter.
Eating disorders are a serious issue that should be taken seriously. If you or a friend struggle with an eating disorder and are seeking help you can contact the National Eating Disorder Association’s (NEDA) helpline. They are available weekdays to chat, text or call. For crisis situations, you can text “NEDA” to 741741 to get into contact with a Crisis Text Line volunteer.
Tonja S • May 2, 2021 at 11:59 am
Stop bashing her. Everyone has some sort of something going on withem either mentally, physically, or both. This cyber shit is what’s wrong. Her triggers may not be yours but it’s a part of her recovery and her journey. Respect that. Today’s climate on food has a lot to offer. When your life physically or mentally is challenged by it then by all means speak up. My sons school is a nut free school because 1 or 2 people have problems. It is what it is. But bashing her is not acceptable and disrespectful.
Initia Durley • May 1, 2021 at 12:48 pm
As someone whose weight has ballooned up to a size 20 from a size 7. I have no sympathy for Demi Luge-topping. I cut out sugar, and yes fat- free sugar, diet sodas, fat-free treats and reclaimed my size 7. Just say no to the fork and stop worrying about what is sold or eaten. Worry about your own chubby riddled condition and stop being a fool. You are not the food police, just an undisciplined idiot!!!
Melissa Goltz • May 1, 2021 at 7:22 am
I cannot stand her she plays victim to EVERYTHING! I have severe food allergies so i am thankful for places that have choices!
BellB • May 1, 2021 at 12:41 am
She definitely approached this as a Karen. Small businesses are STRUGGLING. Demi needs to focus on more serious issues she’s got.
Ina • Apr 30, 2021 at 8:58 pm
Demi needs to not be a hypocrite. If she can promote diet teas for ‘detox’ the she shouldn’t be too triggered over dietary needs in a yogurt shop. By the way she has every right to go to another ice cream shop that will cater to her wants.
Kai • Apr 30, 2021 at 1:59 pm
You’re free to call it a debate, but her complaints are largely one-sided and completely self-centered. Her experiences as someone with an eating disorders aren’t universal or representative of other people suffering or recovering from eating disorders, and it’s incredibly narcissistic of her to pose as their champion and protector when all she’s doing is going on a poorly thought out rant about how her personal comfort is more important than inclsuusivity and comfort for people with dietary restrictions.
Lisa markos • Apr 30, 2021 at 8:06 am
Enough already. This is what’s wrong with America… whining people who are offended by everything. Toughen up, buttercup! You claim to have brain damage from your drug use. Maybe that’s why you’re going off the rails right now with your insane rants. You’re not relevant anymore as an actress or a singer. Move on. #noonecares
GmaBecky • Apr 29, 2021 at 1:29 pm
Demi needs to use her celebrity status for good, not to throw little tantrums. Grow up!!
AngieD • Apr 29, 2021 at 9:14 am
Demi Lovato needs to keep her triggers to herself.
There are many people who either cannot eat sugar because of diabetes, or just choose a healthier lifestyle by not eating sugar who enjoy sugar free options. It’s so self absorbed, appalling, and yet typical that she instinctively thought first only of herself and her own demons, then reacted without any control of thought for others. You do better, Demi. Stay in therapy.
Matthew T Cloud • Apr 29, 2021 at 8:55 am
Her problem is she has no self-control, I wonder why she doesn’t post about liquor stores or pot despensers “triggering” her. She wants everyone to make sure she never has to say no on her own, because she is weak and has no self-control IE California sober.
J • Apr 29, 2021 at 7:27 am
As a woman who grew up with eating disorders and who was so often picked on for my weight when I was never super fat just not small all the eat me guilt free and other kind of use of passive aggressive eating disorder encouraging messages on things I destroyed my body trying to get thin. I would burn more calories than I took in and before the age of twenty five my knees got injured and I couldn’t exercise for awhile I gained 80 lbs in 5 months and never lost it all. My body was so messed up I had starve myself for weeks to see any.weigjt loss and still never did so maybe Demi Lovato went the wrong way about it but the messages on their products ARE harmful to a person with disorders of eating. I see why she was upset.
Laura Coombe • Apr 29, 2021 at 2:19 am
As a person with auto immune problems (severe food allergies and type 1 diabetes), Demi Lovato’s referencing products geared towards people like myself as “diet vulture culture” was extremely offensive. I live in a world where food can easily kill me and I deserve to be able to find those few alternatives that won’t harm me quickly and easily. Only someone who hasn’t had to spend hours, if not days, researching what is safe to eat and then scouring grocery stores and restaurants to find them ( fast food is a big NO for me as the threat of wheat abounds in them), would call these products “diet vulture culture”. Her insensitivity to people with special dietary needs has completely and permanently turned me into an anti-fan.