Social media star Chrissy Teigen has apologised for a series of “tone deaf” tweets about ordering soup while in self-isolation.
In a now-deleted tweet, the author encouraged her followers to order food using a company called Goldbelly, which is basically another American version of Uber Eats that delivers food from around the country.
“This is not an ad but if you’re holed up at home, ordering America’s best food from Goldbelly is the way to go right now!” she wrote. “Currently shipping clam chowder from Boston to myself.”
In a separate tweet that Teigen has also since deleted, she expressed her love of Goldbelly. “If you’ve ever eaten somewhere and dreamed of having that certain bite again, chances are they have it available for delivery to your mouth and it’s so fun to scroll through,” she explained.
Even though it’s v. clear that Teigen had no ill-will with her tweets, she copped a lot of criticism from her followers as a lot of companies don’t pay their drivers for sick leave.
“Correction: do NOT order soup,” she tweeted amid the backlash.
correction: do NOT order soup
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) March 15, 2020
Palaeontologist Trevor Valle responded and initially called the initial tweet “reprehensible.” He also clarified that the angry replies Teigen received likely weren’t about the soup itself. “It’s about people being scared about not having enough resources, who can’t do what you do …” he explained. “Isolated people using social media to connect, and if they see something like that, and then feel worse, because they can’t.”
it IS just soup. I can’t make everyone happy, I’ve really tried. why am I not allowed to make a boring, earnest tweet about something I enjoy that some others can too?
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) March 15, 2020
She responded, “It IS just soup. I can’t make everyone happy, I’ve really tried. why am I not allowed to make a boring, earnest tweet about something I enjoy that some others can too?”
it was a ride. I didn’t mean it to sound like I don’t care about the pandemic? it was tweeted quite innocently, perhaps tone deaf but I like soup and if you can support these businesses, then that seemed cool but yeah if you can’t, then that is also fine, I am not shaming you https://t.co/WZEVNxHyy8
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) March 15, 2020
“It was a ride,” she subsequently tweeted. “I didn’t mean it to sound like I don’t care about the pandemic? It was tweeted quite innocently, perhaps tone deaf but I like soup and if you can support these businesses, then that seemed cool but yeah if you can’t, then that is also fine, I am not shaming you.”
Here are some of the responses from Teigen’s critics:
I love hollywood elites.While everyone is panicking and worried sick about what’s going to happen these next few months she’s out here suggesting people buy the most expensive soup on earth lmfao. Never change @chrissyteigen pic.twitter.com/UBPWta2lev
— gregg (@Gregggyboy) March 15, 2020
https://twitter.com/jj17363386/status/1239221337731850240
I dont think it was intentionally meant to be insensitive Chrissy, but @ a time like this it came across that way and was definitely tone deaf. Not everyone has money like you. Most people like me live check 2 check & missing a check means bills not paid & no food on the table.
— Miss Kay (@kvm949) March 15, 2020