Demi Lovato is doubling down on her criticism of the The Bigg Chill, an LA based frozen yogurt shop that she had called out for their apparent excess of diet-geared inventory, despite many of them being essential to diabetic customers.
After getting slammed on social media for her comments, whereby she claimed she felt ‘triggered’ by the sugar-free options, the 28-year-old singer stood firm by her actions on Monday in two new social media posts.
‘This screams diet culture and I won’t be gaslit by the media or anyone else that says otherwise,’ Demi caption an Instagram post, that showed some gluten-free products sold by the establishment.
The products seen in Demi’s post – which she had taken from The Bigg Chill’s official Instagram account – had been marketed as ‘guilt free’ cookies and cakes, with 22 grams of protein, and being low-carb and gluten free.
‘This screams diet culture!’ Demi Lovato has doubled down on her criticism of the The Bigg Chill, an LA based frozen yogurt shop that she called out for their excess of diet-geared food
Trying to explain her issue further, Demi wrote: ‘I don’t need to feel guilt free about eating anything. This was what I was talking about and this is directly from their own page @thebiggchillofficial.’
The Sorry Not Sorry pop star then wrote on another post, ‘It’s time the media stops gaslighting women who stand up for themselves.’
Demi is responding to her own controversy, which has seen her be subject to mass scrutiny on Twitter for the ‘stupid’ attack, which has left many fans confused, as well as people upset with a big star attacking a small business in lockdown.
Not backing down: The 28-year-old singer stood firm by her actions on Monday in new social media posts shared to her Instagram Stories
In her original post, she penned: ‘Finding it extremely hard to order froyo from [The Bigg Chill] when you have to walk past tons of sugar-free cookies/other diet foods before you get to the counter’, before adding the hashtag ‘Do Better’.
The store, situated on Olympic Blvd, is owned by Diane Dinow and her daughter Cary Russell, who revealed in 2011 that they average 1,000 customers a day in the week and up to 1,300 at the weekends.
Demi accused the the shop of ‘harmful messaging from brands or companies that perpetuate a society that not only enables but praises disordered eating.’
The establishment responded to the Sorry Not Sorry songstress in a direct message, which she subsequently posted online.
The company responded saying: ‘We are not diet vultures. We cater to all of our customers needs for the past 36 years. We are sorry you found this offensive.’
Lovato responded: ‘Not just that. Your service was terrible. So rude. The whole experience was triggering and awful.’
Owner: The store, situated on Olympic Blvd, is owned by Diane Dinow (pictured)
The A-list singer took to social media detailing her unpleasant experience at the shop
Co-owned: The eatery is co-owned by Diane’s daughter Cary Russell, who revealed in 2011 that they average 1,000 customers a day in the week and up to 1,300 at the weekends
She advised the business: ‘You can carry things for other people while also carrying for another percentage of your customers who struggle DAILY just to even step foot in your store…
‘You can find a way to provide an environment for all people with different needs. Including eating disorders – one of the deadliest mental illness only second to [opioid] overdoses. Don’t make excuses, just do better.’
The What Other People Say artist then advised the business on different ways it could improve on the issue.
She penned: ‘I was thinking, maybe it would help if you made it more clear that the sugar free options and vegan options are for that. Labeling the snacks for celiac or diabetes or vegans.
Bigg Chill! The store (pictured) is situated on Olympic Blvd
The company responded to Lovato: ‘We are not diet vultures. We cater to all of our customers needs for the past 36 years. We are sorry you found this offensive’
‘When it’s not super clear, the messaging gets confusing and being in LA it’s really hard to distinguish diet culture vs health needs. I think clear messaging would be more beneficial for everyone. You aren’t wrong for catering to many different needs but it’s not about excluding one demographic to cater to others.’
Fans soon responded in anger, writing: ‘What’s your favorite internet beef rn mine is Demi lovato forgetting diabetics exist and fighting a frozen yogurt business in public…
‘CALL OUT: Demi Lovato calls out Yogurt shop for sugar free foods. Demi says “Finding it extremely hard to order froyo from The Big Chill when you have to walk past tons of sugar free cookies/other diet foods.”…
Shocking: Fans soon responded in anger, writing: ‘What’s your favorite internet beef rn mine is Demi lovato forgetting diabetics exist and fighting a frozen yogurt business in public’
‘Shop says they carry food for diabetics, celiac disease and vegan… Demi Lovato brainstorming how she can victimize herself with a frozen yogurt company…
‘Demi Lovato would like to speak to your manager @TheBiggChill How dare y’all sell healthy and delicious frozen yogurt for everyone… Sugar free options aren’t for diet culture some people genuinely need those options ??…
‘POC are finding it very hard to walk down the street without being killed and Demi Lovato is out here bitching about frozen yogurt options for diabetics. Do better please…
‘I have so many thoughts about Demi Lovato dragging a yogurt shop for having sugar free foods, but I’m going to keep quiet since the last time I criticized Demi the tweet blew up and all her fans came at me and called me fat and ugly….
‘Demi Lovato just put a yogurt shop on blast to her 102M followers and wants to make this a hashtag series… Demi Lovato is using her celebrity to attack a frozen yogurt store and I’m not sure why… Demi lovato is terrible…
‘She complains about a yogurt shop having sugar free cookies. She should be the definition of pathetic… I’m sorry it’s a frozen yogurt shop…
‘Did you expect the shelves to be stocked with carrots and kale? This is truly a stupid take. Shaming the best frozen yogurt spot in LA.’
Even Real Housewives of New York star Leah McSweeney jumped in, posting her thoughts on Instagram Stories following the snafu.
‘Demi Lovato should be ashamed of herself for using her platform of 102 million people following her on Instagram,’ Leah began.
‘To drag a frozen yoghurt spot, because she’s mad that they sell diet frozen yoghurt, and sugar-free options because that triggers her. Therefore they should just be harrassed and go out of business… what the f***k!’
‘I mean, I’m sorry that she had to deal with an eating disorder that’s terrible, but does that mean we have to stop offering people sugar-free options for things?’
‘What about people diabetes? What about people that don’t want to eat regular ice cream, and just want some sugar-free frozen yoghurt?’
Leah finished: ‘That is just the ultimate privilege, to use your fucking platform with millions and millions of people, to drag a f****ing business, who only have 6,000 followers on Instagram, who have been doing their thing since like the ’80s.’
The OK Not to Be OK performer has past been open about her struggles with eating disorders, including going into treatment to deal with bulimia when she was 18.
The establishment responded to the Sorry Not Sorry songstress in a direct message, which she subsequently posted online
Last month, she told CBS Sunday Morning that ongoing eating disorder-linked behavior played a role ahead of her overdose in 2018.
‘I didn’t control any of my life at that period of time,’ she said, adding that ‘every time I was in a hotel room my phone was taken out of the room so I couldn’t order room service.’
She elaborated on the topic in February with Ashley Graham on her podcast Pretty Big Deal, saying, ‘I’m tired of running myself into the ground with workouts and extreme dieting.
‘I thought the past few years was recovery from an eating disorder when it actually was just completely falling into it. And I just realized that maybe my symptoms weren’t as obvious as before, but it was definitely an eating issue.’
Not a fan: RHONY star Leah McSweeney called out Demi for her antics while also promoting The Bigg Chill on her Instagram Stories