The internet was not happy
In April, pop star and Disney Channel alum Demi Lovato (they/them) criticised a frozen yoghurt company for promoting diet culture through their reduced sugar products.
Posting to their 106m followers on Instagram, Lovato said: “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.
However, in an appearance at the iHeartRadio Music Awards last week, Lovato was pictured holding a Dr Pepper Zero Sugar branded microphone. The internet was not happy.
https://twitter.com/defnoodles/status/1399137166354128897?s=20
People on social media immediately criticised them, claiming they were pushing double standards and choosing to look the other way when money is involved.
One user writes: “So Demi Lovato went on a whole rant about diet culture a month ago just for them to be promoting a SUGAR FREE Dr Pepper? So is diet culture okay only when it gives you money, Demi? This is why people are failing to take them more seriously because this is just hypocritical.”
Another wrote: “Why is Demi so problematic!! Always involved in something to stay relevant.”
Though the backlash over a branded microphone has been vocal, some have come to support the non-binary artist. “It’s not like they were going to refuse to do the interview just cuz of the mic,” exclaims a user on Twitter.
Since the controversy, representatives on Lovato’s team have spoken to Page Six about the controversy, if you can even really call it that.
“Demi was doing a promotional stop for the awards show as a good partner to iHeart.” Demi has since apologised for their initial frozen Yoghurt comments.
As an outspoken advocate for better conversations around weight, Lovato’s heart was in the right place. They thought they were pushing for a better narrative on weight loss, and though their methods may have been a little drastic, they were simply trying to protect the vulnerable.
Perhaps the energy spent criticising celebrities should be spent aiding in the battles against the issues they too feel passionate about?
