Demi Lovato incurred the wrath of her followers on Saturday after she attacked Los Angeles-based frozen yogurt shop, The Bigg Chill, for having diet-friendly alternatives. After seeing their “triggered” menu items that could hurt someone’s feelings, Demi Lovato turned to Instagram to criticize the dessert shop. Fans were quick to pounce on Demi Lovato’s statement, calling it “stupid,” because the business offers sugar-free choices – which are excellent for customers with diabetes.
The first post from Lovato read as follows: “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. Do better, please.” She concluded her message with the hashtag, “Diet Culture Vultures.”
The Bigg Chill was started by a mother-daughter team in 2011. For the past ten years, Diane Dinow and her daughter Cary Russell (both pictured below) have run a famous frozen yogurt store along Los Angeles’ Olympic Boulevard, claiming to serve as many as 1,000 customers on weekdays and as many as 1,300 clients on weekends.
Nonetheless, Lovato utilized her position as a celebrity to lash out at the company for its alleged shortcomings “harmful messaging from brands or companies that perpetuate a society that not only enables but praises disordered eating.” Lovato Continued, “So, I think I’m gonna have to make that hashtag a thing.”
The LA eater responded to the singer with a private message that they subsequently leaks online.
They said:
“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 replied: “Not just that. Your service was terrible. So rude. The whole experience was triggering and awful.”
The singer continued, “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 illnesses only second to [opioid] overdoses. Don’t make excuses. Just do better.”
She also offered suggestions for how the yogurt shop might “do better,” including:: “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. 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 were furious with Lovato for criticizing the family-owned business.
“What’s your favorite internet beef (right now). 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.”
