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Singer Demi Lovato has come under fire after using her Instagram platform to slam a Los Angeles frozen yogurt shop, The Bigg Chill, for carrying sugar-free options on its menu.
By carrying the products, the shop, Lovato claimed, was trafficking in "diet culture." Lovato, who is recovering from an eating disorder, said she found her experience at the yogurt shop "triggering and awful."
Her posts angered many online.
In her posts, which appeared on her Instagram story, Lovato criticized The Bigg Chill for promoting sugar-free "diet foods."
"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. Do better please."
Lovato went on to coin a hashtag, "#dietculturevultures" which she said she'd use to call out businesses like The Bigg Chill who engage in harmful diet culture.
@ddlovato/Instagram
The Bigg Chill, in turn, responded to Lovato via direct message, explaining the sugar-free products in their stores were to serve people with dietary restrictions, such as diabetics, many of whom can only eat sugar-free sweets.
Lovato was still unsatisfied, however, instructing the shop "don't make excuses, just do better" and posting the exchange to her Instagram story.
@ddlovato/Instagram
Lovato has since walked back her attack on the shop, apologizing for having "got the messaging wrong" and offering to help the shop with its "messaging."
Demi Lovato apologizes for the yogurt shop controversy: “I’m sorry that I got the messaging wrong. I'm sorry that… https://t.co/Oozd0nomHz— Pop Crave (@Pop Crave) 1618866368.0
That offer doesn't seem likely to be accepted, however.
In a statement to HuffPost, The Bigg Chill said they were "really hurt by Demi's comments" and reiterated their commitment to "have something for everyone" in their store.
Online, many called out Lovato for using her platform to go after a small business they felt did nothing wrong.
i legit cannot stand demi lovato. this restaurant is not the cause for ur triggers. sugar free cookies do not class… https://t.co/4CXPyWdc4V— brittnay (@brittnay) 1618770605.0
Demi Lovato using her army of millions of followers to target a small business for daring to offer healthy ice crea… https://t.co/MbZ6W6jvQk— chris evans (@chris evans) 1618936487.0
i can’t believe demi lovato is using her second chance to be annoying— spek-tater 🧈 (@spek-tater 🧈) 1618802621.0
support small business! especially when demi lovato tells you not to. https://t.co/tJphmR3Om8— megan. (@megan.) 1618874632.0
i get demi has her own triggers but she could’ve stated her feelings without tagging a small business that didn’t h… https://t.co/glpVUzAojR— 💫🍑🌟 (@💫🍑🌟) 1618787484.0
Of course there were also those who felt the need to mock Lovato.
What’s your favorite internet beef rn mine is Demi lovato forgetting diabetics exist and fighting a frozen yogurt b… https://t.co/8ggnYhMEFT— Tim the Enchanter (@Tim the Enchanter) 1618770340.0
You’re at the dinner table with Demi Lovato and tell the waiter you want to substitute fries for a salad with light… https://t.co/GSBDT7ypme— ✨ (@✨) 1618946546.0
Lovato's latest album, Dancing with the Devil...The Art of Starting Over, chronicles the period following her near fatal drug overdose in 2018.
She recently revealed she has also struggled with bulimia, and has spoken out against toxic "diet culture" she and many activists claim glorify disordered eating.