Demi Lovato has denounced Instagram for sponsoring a mobile gaming app which promoted body-shaming.
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The artist, who has previously struggled with eating disorders and her body image, posted a series of screenshots from the Game of Sultans ad to her Instagram story. The ad showed two animated female characters – one was described as “pretty” and the other “obese”.
“Why is this fat shaming bullshit on my feed? So many things wrong with this ad,” Lovato captioned the story.
“This is absolutely harmful to anyone who is easily influenced by societal pressures put on us from the diet culture to constantly be losing weight in a world that teaches us to equate our value and worth with the way we look and especially anyone in recovery from an eating disorder,” the artist continued.
Lovato then directly addressed Instagram with the words: “So please Instagram, keep this bullshit off mine and other’s feeds who could be easily effected [sic] by this disgusting advertisement. With how aware people are becoming of mental health and mental illnesses, I expect you guys to know better by allowing this advertisement to be allowed on your app. And shame on the game.
It didn’t take long for Instagram to remove the ad.
In a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, a spokesperson for Instagram apologised and ensured users that the ad would no longer appear on feeds.
“We’re sorry. This ad was approved by mistake. We reviewed it again and removed it from future delivery in people’s feeds,” the statement read.
Afterwards on Twitter, Lovato encouraged her fans to “always speak up for what you believe in!”
https://twitter.com/ddlovato/status/1081263563874885633
If you would like to talk with someone about eating disorders, disordered eating, or body image issues, you can contact the Butterfly Foundation on 1800 334 673.
