Demi Lovato Slams Disney on Twitter For Eating Disorder Joke

Celebrity News December 24, 2011 AT 10:31AM
Demi Lovato Slams Disney on Twitter For Eating Disorder Joke Credit: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

Demi Lovato has been open with her fans about her struggle with food, and now the star is fuming over a joke about eating disorders on the Disney Channel's show Shake It Up

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Lovato, 19, who entered rehab last year for bulimia and bipolar disorder was upset with a character who quipped, "I could just eat you up, well if I ate."

"I find it really funny how a company can lose one of their actress' from the pressures of an EATING DISORDER and yet still make joke about that very disease. #nice," the singer and former star of "Sonny With a Chance," tweeted Friday.

Lovato added: "And is it just me or are the actress' [on Disney Channel] getting THINNER AND THINNER.... I miss the days of RAVEN, and LIZZIE MCGUIRE," referencing former Disney actresses Raven Simone and Hilary Duff.

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She then sent one final message to her former employer: "Dear Disney Channel, EATING DISORDERS ARE NOT SOMETHING TO JOKE ABOUT."

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In addition to reaching more than five million followers, Lovato's rant clearly made it to Disney. Just a few hours later the company's official public relations responded to her with two tweets:

"@ddlovato - we hear you & are pulling both episodes as quickly as possible & reevaluating them"

"@ddlovato - It's NEVER our intention to make light of eating disorders!"

As a result, Disney pulled the Shake It Up episode titled "Party It Up" and an episode of another show called So Random!.

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The company's quick actions seemed to satisfy Lovato. She tweeted: "@DisneyChannelPR thank you."

 

Tell Us What You Think

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  • December 28, 2011 - 7:53pm Jeff Ting

    Good Christian Woman I find it appalling that Demi Lovato is actually sticking up for something! Doesn't she know that her position as a good christian woman is to stay behind a counter and tend to her husband? She has no business at all stating opinions about things she knows nothing about. I mean eating disorders are NOT a disease. Despite the fact that there are TONS of scientific research out there that has been PROVEN that eating disorders has some kind of genetic benefactors to them. Psh! Science! You can prove anything with science these days! Who do these doctors think they are finding new medical breakthroughs at every given moment?! Demi Lovato really needs to re-evaluate herself as a christian woman! She needs to know her place in the world and cook for her man and tend to her babies. Who does she think she is?!

  • December 28, 2011 - 7:52pm Jeff Ting

    Shannon Burmatoff darling try to refrain from commenting until you are able to formulate a simple thought that doesn't sound borderline retarded. Thanks love :)

  • December 28, 2011 - 7:51pm Jeff Ting

    @Daric Goff and Romeo Madej Yeah who does she think she is talking about these "eating disorders"? I mean its not like eating disorders effect millions of people a year and that young men and women DIE from it right?...Right? But darn her for not focusing on her music. You're right about that guys I mean when was the last time she just came back from a cross country tour and JUST recently announced her new single? I mean a WEEK Ago? Hello! lol Psh...

  • December 26, 2011 - 4:21pm Marta Jary

    Over eating is a form of disordered eating too.

  • December 25, 2011 - 8:09pm Tom Ploti

    "Jeff Ting :"Do the world a solid kid and tie a noose around your neck I find it kinda odd you are trying to say Disney should not make a joke about eating disorders and yet at same time making a joke(I assume unless you are a evil crazy person who wishes someone dead over a different opinion) about suicide.

  • December 25, 2011 - 5:02pm Joe Yernes

    shhhhhhhhh don't awake the sheep!

  • December 25, 2011 - 12:14am Ronald Kaim

    for those who are tired of hearing about Lovato's eating disorder and ect, it is a very important issue not only for her but for all of us. Jeff, we do not hear about a "relationship disorder" like we do with bulimia, is because bulimia if not treated, kills.

  • December 24, 2011 - 11:27pm Shannon Burmatoff

    Demi whines too much etc..

  • December 24, 2011 - 10:34pm Bianca Sorci

    Finally someone is speaking out--Not all skinny people are unhealthy obviously! But Bella Thorne who plays Cece on Shake It Up is tooo skinny--But that episode is kind of old and has been around for a while--They barely play it anymore so I wonder how she saw it..anyways thats just my two cence about the whole thing :).

  • December 24, 2011 - 10:27pm Bitty Romeo Madej

    Demi Lovato has good intentions but like the person below said, I think she is pointing out things from her personal life too much. I mean she is supposed to be famous for her talent....right? I'm gonna get all thumbs down for this comment but its just my opinion.

  • December 24, 2011 - 8:51pm Daric Goff

    Not that I condone these kinds of jokes ... because I never do -- This whole eating disorder thing with her is getting really old. Where's her music? Isn't that what she's famous for? Singing? Getting tired quickly tired of only ever hearing her say something regarding 'Eating Disorder' these days.

  • December 24, 2011 - 8:33pm Jan Far

    Hollywood is killing actresses every day demanding they be skinny on sets ALL over the WORLD. She's called Disney out is apart of UNCARING Hollywood.

  • December 24, 2011 - 5:37pm Jeff Ting

    I have never heard someone claim that someone else had a RELATIONSHIP disorder. Only because there is no such thing! Really how stupid are the morons who comment here? Just saying.

  • December 24, 2011 - 5:22pm Jeff Ting

    Again sorry Shannon if the truth hurts. Ignorant people usually can't take being called out for their stupidity :)

  • December 24, 2011 - 5:03pm Lindsee Peterson

    Please don't think I am jumping on you, but Jeff, can I ask you something? This coming from a person who has battled a eating disorder for 15 years and now been in recovery the last 2 years, have you or do you know someone who has been through one? I think she told the public and her fans to bring awareness about the seriousness of the mental illness. Mine almost killed me because they are deadly if not treated or handled properly. It's just not a proper subject to joke about when it has a very high mortaility rate. I take jokes like that personally because that person has no clue what hell I or others with one been through. She is greatful for Disney giving her a career, but the reaction is a normal emotional defense mechanism and can even trigger a relapse. I think she was trying to point out how Raven and Lizzie were in a healthy weight and good role models. Kids are watching the show and these days unbfortuntely children young as 3 or 5 are now being diagnosed with anorexia, I'm not saying this to start a fight but explaining some of the reasons behind her response. The media has a huge impact on young people more than some can realize and I'll finish with that point.

  • December 24, 2011 - 4:34pm Shannon Burmatoff

    Your mom must be so proud of you lol

  • December 24, 2011 - 4:28pm Elsa Caceres

    relationship disorder is something to take seriously...dear...you are in denial...wh o lets you go after men who are too old for you? you need people in their early 20's..you are just a kind

  • December 24, 2011 - 4:25pm Jeff Ting

    Sorry if the truth hurts love

  • December 24, 2011 - 4:25pm Jeff Ting

    Just calling what you are shannon :)

  • December 24, 2011 - 3:49pm Caroline Isabel

    I agree completely with her stance on it. They SHOULD NOT be making jokes like that. Firstly, it enforces the completely out of line stereotype of models (I'm assuming) not eating, and makes light of eating disorders to little kids. It's NOT ok to make jokes about that, especially with Demi's recent circumstances. How about having an episode about the dangers of eating disorders, like That's so raven or lizzie mcguire did, instead of quips that make light of something extremely serious.

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