Demi Lovato has always been an advocate for healthy body image. But the singer’s recent series of Tweets Wednesday about eating disorder misconceptions have raised speculation that she’s responding to media comments Meghan Trainor made last month.
Tony DiMaio/Startraks Photo; Amanda Edwards/WireImage
During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the “All About That Bass” singer said that while she struggled with weight insecurity, she “wasn’t strong enough to have an eating disorder.”
“I tried to go anorexic for a good three hours,” said Trainor, 20, in the clip that aired in September. “I ate ice and celery, but that’s not even anorexic. And I quit. I was like, ‘Ma, can you make me a sandwich? Like, immediately.’ “
While Lovato, 22, never mentioned Trainor by name in her Tweets, the pop singer — who has been open about her own struggle with anorexia and bulimia — wasn’t shy about expressing her outrage over how eating disorders are often misrepresented.
“Having an eating disorder doesn’t show ‘strength,’ ” she Tweeted. “Strength is when you are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long.”
Her Tweets continued: “There’s a wide misconception that anorexia and/or bulimia is a choice and you often hear people say things like ‘why doesn’t she just start eating?’ Or even ‘just stop throwing up.’ It’s the ignorance and lack of education on mental illnesses that continues to [put] mental health care on the back burner to congress even though this is an epidemic that is sweeping our nation, and causing more and more tragedy every day. Starving is not a ‘diet’ and throwing up isn’t something that only extremely thin men or women do. Eating disorders do not discriminate. Neither does any other mental illness. These are deadly diseases that are taking lives daily. So please, let’s be cautious of the words we use when discussing ED’s and other mental illnesses.”
The “Skyscraper” singer finished off her Twitter diatribe with a friendly disclaimer.
“Btw this isn’t a rant, just a reminder for everyone out there who may not know the severity of these deadly diseases,” she wrote. “No hate here.”
Do you think Lovato’s Tweets were aimed at Trainor? What do you think about Trainor’s original eating disorder remarks? Share your thoughts below.
–Gabrielle Olya
