Everybody’s favorite Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sarah Michelle Gellar, just posted some photos on her Instagram — throwback pics of her 2007 Maxim shoot. Like many IG users, instead of just posting attractive photos of herself, Gellar used an excuse to remind people how hot she is. In this case, her excuse du jour was Thanksgiving. She captioned them:
I’m just going to pin these up all over my house as a reminder not to overeat on Thursday #thanksgivingprep
And then the commenters went crazy.
For many, it was an innocent joke. But to others who read into the caption, it was fat shaming and a trigger for those with eating disorders.
Related: 8 Celebs Who Were Food Shamed For No Good Reason
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqVMDydnekQ
Comments include:
Your caption is problematic and I suggest you do some research on eating disorders, the mental health issues that go along with them, and how diet culture is harmful to women. Girls look up to you, and you should be mindful of the message you’re sending.
it’s hard not to see this as encouragement to restrict calories
I think she’s great and obviously very beautiful, but the caption was pretty sad and disappointing but that’s just my opinion and I’m pretty sure it was a joke.
You are my hero but I kind of respect you less for this ?
This caption is really damaging to people with eating disorders or body dysmorphia. I urge you to edit your caption to something less harmful.
Please consider rewording this, there’s nothing wrong with eating or being something other than skinny. And this post is a great way to trigger people’s eating disorders.
Don’t make this about eating. That’s weird. Just post your pics and go.
One day of eating good food and enjoying tradition with your family and friends won’t change your body. And even if it did… is it bad to be anything but slim?
But most people came to Gellar’s rescue, seeing the post for what it was: a joke. And at the very least, a good reminder not to make yourself feel like absolute garbage the day after Thanksgiving.
Thank you for promoting a healthy lifestyle! You can enjoy Thanksgiving without going crazy!!??
If this triggers someomes eating disorder then that is on THEM not @sarahmgellar quit blaming others for your OWN actions!
I don’t agree with the packaging of this inspiration to monitor enjoyment on a holiday, especially when we live in a toxic society that already holds women to unhealthy standards in terms of age and beauty.
NEWS FLASH: celebrities can’t eat like the rest of us and look like they do. If this hurts your feelings then you really need to figure out why that is, because that’s weird and irrational.
As a former anorexic and bulimic, I don’t see any harm or malice in the post. She looks amazing and shouldn’t be shamed for looking that way. You are also body shaming her for the way she looks.
The amount of people here defending the idea that one day of indulgence is something to obsess over makes me realize that we have a lot of work to do still when it comes to spreading the #bodypositivity movement.
Whatever your plans are for Thursday, don’t be swayed by one person’s Instagram post that really seems to be more about posting throwback photos a few days early.
