Instagram Deletes Kim Kardashian's Post Promoting Appetite Suppressing Lollipops
Update: Instagram replied to The Mighty’s request for comment, and said the removal of Kim Kardashian’s post was a mistake and has restored the photo to her account.
Kim Kardashian uploaded a photo of herself on Instagram Tuesday sucking on a red lollipop that supposedly acts as an appetite suppressant. The photo was an ad for Flat Tummy Co. and Kardashian urged her followers to buy them quickly in order to get a discount. On Wednesday, Instagram deleted the photo because it broke community guidelines.
Kardashian’s Instagram followers and others on Twitter expressed their disappointment and disgust at the ad, noting it encouraged disordered eating and did not set a good example for Kardashian’s young followers.
wow i have lost all respect for Kim Kardashian. promoting appetite suppressants when it’s mental health awareness week?? there are so many people who battle or who have battled with an eating disorder and she is making not eating look like it is “trendy”. disgusting and selfish.
— letice day (@leticeyday) May 16, 2018
Kim Kardashian promoting appetite suppressants. Does she have absolutely no shame? This is incredibly damaging and dangerous. pic.twitter.com/thFTNoCjYA
— Em Sheldon (@emshelx) May 16, 2018
Eating disorders are a very real issue for a lot of young people and to see Kim Kardashian actively encouraging her fans to develop an unhealthy relationship with food is terrifying and gravely concerning. pic.twitter.com/hhFYBbm8hL
— Liam Hackett (@DiageoLiam) May 16, 2018
maybe i’m being biased because i suffer from multiple EDs but i would love a public apology from @KimKardashian. yeah i’m @-ing you, bitch
— I hope Stephen Sondheim is having a good day (@GraceSpelman) May 16, 2018
Kim Kardashian is out here promoting appetite suppressant lollipops for money.. had 16 year old bulimic Rebekkah seen her post, i’d buy at least 20 in hopes that i could look like her.. honestly so triggering and so fucking idiotic. Kim is canceled for good
— Bek (@bekkaahhhhh) May 16, 2018
I actually can’t BELIEVE the nerve of Kim Kardashian promoting ‘appetite suppressant lollipops’. her audience is made up of mostly impressionable young people who already have so much pressure on them to look and be perfect, we all deserve so much better
— kellie ???? (@gnsfrhnds) May 16, 2018
Jameela Jamil, the actress who plays Tahani on “The Good Place,” tweeted that Kardashian was a “toxic influence” for young girls. Jamil runs a body positivity Instagram account and has called out Kardashian before.
No. Fuck off. No. You terrible and toxic influence on young girls. I admire their mother’s branding capabilities, she is an exploitative but innovative genius, however this family makes me feel actual despair over what women are reduced to. ☹️ pic.twitter.com/zDPN1T8sBM
— Jameela Jamil ???? (@jameelajamil) May 16, 2018
Instagram’s community guidelines include a section on creating a supportive environment that does not glorify self-injury, which the social media company says includes eating disorders. Instagram also has an entire page dedicated to eating disorder awareness.
“Encouraging or urging people to embrace self-injury is counter to this environment of support, and we’ll remove it or disable accounts if it’s reported to us,” Instagram includes in its community guidelines.
After Kardashian’s post was removed, Flat Tummy Co.’s Instagram seemed to be briefly deleted but is back online now.
Looks like @FlatTummyCo just deleted their Instagram after the Kim Kardashian kickback. They had 1.5million followers there, less than 9000 here on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/MHgWaKUYZC
— Susanne Courtney (@MrsSoose) May 16, 2018
Eating disorders affect approximately 30 million people in the U.S. and have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. The National Institute for Mental Health states that eating disorders typically present during teen years and young adulthood and affects women at higher rates than men. According to the Pew Research Center, 71 percent of Americans aged 18 to 24 use Instagram.
The Mighty reached out to Flat Tummy Co. and has yet to hear back.
Image via Creative Commons/Nathan Congleton
Elizabeth is the reporter at The Mighty. Elizabeth also runs the Elizabeth Explains column of Mighty Brief, The Mighty's daily newsletter. Follow her on twitter @ekcassidy4 or send an email to elizabeth@themighty.com.
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