Demi Lovato Blasts Disney For 'Eating Disorder' Joke
One of Disney's signature television shows, "Shake It Up!," made a joke on one of its newest episodes that did not have everybody laughing, especially former Disney star Demi Lovato.
The joke in question, “I could just eat you up, well if I ate."
The line spoken by one of the shows characters seemed innocent enough, except Lovato, who used to star on Disney's "Sonny With a Chance," battled with a well-publicized eating disorder.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"What are we promoting here?” tweeted Lovato. “I find it really funny how a company can lose one of their actress’ [sic] from the pressures of an EATING DISORDER and yet still make joke about … that very disease.”
She continued, “And is it just me, or are the actress’ [sic] getting THINNER AND THINNER … Dear Disney Channel, EATING DISORDERS ARE NOT SOMETHING TO JOKE ABOUT.”
Lovato then explained, "Nor do I think there’s anything wrong with girls who aren’t curvy, I just was stating a fact that there needs to be more variety on TV so young girls growing up don’t feel pressured to look one specific way.”
Disney Channel did some damage control and sent out a tweet from their media relations account. “We hear you & are pulling both episodes as quickly as possible & reevaluating them … It’s NEVER our intention to make light of eating disorders!”
Some viewers of the YouTube clip seem to be in favor of Lovato's reaction, but some think she needs to lighten up.
"this problem could have been solved a lot easier if people would get A SENSE OF HUMOR. when i clicked on the link, i prepared to be shocked. now i'm just shocked that people are offended so easily," said user account callmeaquaman.
Another user, camdooby, said they found something worse on a different Disney show. "this isnt that bad i suppose compared to what i saw the other day... it was a show on disney about a family with a little baby in it...and the family were all talking and the a kid said so is that were you "did it" the parents start making an obvious parent reaction to the question as if it was about sex when infact it was about something completely different, it kind of creeped me out that disney think its fine to put sex into there shows."
