After leaving rehab in 2011, Demi Lovato has been an advocate for healthy living and self-confidence.
The 24-year-old has always been candid about her struggles with bulimia, self-harming, and drug and alcohol abuse in the hopes of inspiring others to seek help the way she did.
Demi has continued promote positivity and body confidence through her appropriately titled fifth album, Confident.
However, the singer has started a major debate online after she commented on a fan’s illustration of her.
Using a recent promotional image Demi posted on Instagram for inspiration, one follower turned the singer into a mystical creature.
Receiving lots of praise for their artistic talents, Demi seemed less than impressed by a certain aspect of the drawing.
She commented:
“Is that how my boobs should look? It’s gorgeous but that’s not my body”.
The artist later defended his drawing but was clearly upset:
“If I make your waist slimmer and your boobs bigger to accentuate the fact that I drew you as a mermaid, a mythological creature, doesn’t mean I say that you should look like that or all girls should look like that.
“I worked a lot on that drawing and I was proud of it, but not anymore.”
The disappointed artist’s comments began a huge debate about body shaming that only got worse when Twitter user Hisillusion posted this picture with the caption:
“Chill, I have fixed it for you.”
Chill, I have fixed it for you. @ddlovato pic.twitter.com/lhsNfD2nLI
— m (@hisillusion) September 30, 2016
With nearly 41,000 retweets, the image clearly divided opinion as to what is simply a joke and what is insensitive.
@urbodysays @LolYouFunnyGrrr @hisillusion @ddlovato someone spent hours making that and Demi bashes it. What's her problem?
— leafiathan (@killr0cknfr0di) October 2, 2016
@kylabell031 @hisillusion she doesn't deserve each this. If that's not the way she wanted her body to be represented then so be it
— Caitlin (@caitlinanya1) October 2, 2016
@lovatoftjonas the fact that she made it 99.9% about how inaccurate the drawing was. Drawings aren't supposed to be accurate.
— Hallween (@visionofurie) September 30, 2016
@hisillusion @ddlovato we're extra and petty for defending her? Yeah she should have said thanks but it didn't look like her body.
— Andrea (@Phanvotic) September 30, 2016
@TrollingFeggit i DONT think its funny she had an eating disorder and shes being bodyshamed thats not funny at all it's hurtful
— sara (@Sparklynisa) October 1, 2016
