The Mighty Logo

Instagram Deletes Kim Kardashian's Post Promoting Appetite Suppressing Lollipops

The most helpful emails in health
Browse our free newsletters

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.

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.

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.

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

Originally published: May 16, 2018
Want more of The Mighty?
You can find even more stories on our Home page. There, you’ll also find thoughts and questions by our community.
Take Me Home