Forever 21 blasted as ‘fat-phobic’ after sending free Atkins bar samples with online orders

Forever 21 has apologized for causing “offense” after being hit with accusations of fat-shaming after several plus-size shoppers say they were sent low-carb Atkins bars alongside clothing they ordered from the fast-fashion retailer online.

Many shoppers have shared photos of the bars, which boast just three grams of carbs apiece, expressing outrage and accusing the mall staple of targeting plus-size customers.

While the inclusion of the Atkins samples was slammed as “fat-phobic” by upset commenters, others insisted that the bars were sent to all online customers, not merely those purchasing plus-size items. In a statement apologizing for the “oversight,” the California-based company has confirmed that the bars went to all shoppers.

“From time to time, Forever 21 surprises our customers with free test products from third parties in their e-commerce orders,” Forever 21 said in a statement provided to Shape. “The freebie items in question were included in all online orders, across all sizes and categories, for a limited time and have since been removed. This was an oversight on our part and we sincerely apologize for any offense this may have caused to our customers, as this was not our intention in any way.”

Some shoppers are still upset that the bars were included at all, claiming that the brand was “forcing diet culture down people’s throats” and treating teen shoppers and those with a history of eating disorders irresponsibly.

Related: Stars speak up about body shaming: 15 PHOTOSStars who fought back against body shamingSee GalleryStars who fought back against body shaming

 Chrissy Metz

“This Is Us” star Chrissy Metz talked back to body shamers over a latex dress she wore to the MTV Movie & TV Awards in 2017.

"For the record, I wear what I want, when I want. News flash it’s MY body. #thankstho," she tweeted.

(Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

Amy Schumer

The comedian hasn’t been shy about her body, but last year she posted a swimsuit picture on Instagram in an effort to bait and then lambaste body shamers.

This came a month after Schumer called out Glamour magazine for featuring her in its “Chic at Any Size” special issue.

“Plus size is considered size 16 in America,” Schumer wrote on Instagram. “I go between a size 6 and an 8."

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Daisy Ridley

Last March, an Instagram user posted a photo of Ridley as Rey with a speech bubble that read “I can’t believe the unrealistic expectations I’m setting for young girls. Who cast me anyway? Don’t they know that real women have curves?”

Ridley responded to the troll with a screen grab of their original post and comment that said, “‘Real women’ are all shapes and sizes, all ethnicities, all levels of brave, have families, don’t have families. I am a ‘real women’ like every other woman in this world.”

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Lady Gaga

Following Gaga’s Super Bowl LI halftime show this year, some internet trolls decided to mock her appearance and her “flabby belly."

She struck back at her body shamers with a message of personal acceptance.

“I heard my body is a topic of conversation so I wanted to say, I’m proud of my body and you should be proud of yours too,” Gaga wrote on Instagram. “No matter who you are or what you do. I could give you a million reasons why you don’t need to cater to anyone or anything to succeed. Be you, and be relentlessly you. That’s the stuff of champions. thank you so much everyone for supporting me. I love you guys. Xoxo, gaga.”

REUTERS/Robert Seale 

Vin Diesel

After photos surfaced of Vin Diesel with a “softer” physique than fans are used to, the actor said, “I do think it’s wrong to body shame. Trolls on the Internet — there are all kinds of atrocities they commit on the Internet.”

REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

Emma Thompson

In an interview on Swedish talk show “Skavlan,” Thompson spoke out against Hollywood for triggering anorexic behavior in actors. “The anorexia … there are so many kids, girls and boys now, and actresses who are very, very thin that are into their 30’s and simply don’t eat. They don’t eat,” she said.

She then said she defended one actress on set when she was told to lose weight.

“I said to them, ‘If you speak to her about this again, on any level, I will leave this picture, you are never to do that.’”

 REUTERS/Neil Hall

Demi Lovato

In an interview with Glamour last year, the singer said, "If somebody calls me fat, even in a vulnerable moment, I laugh to myself and think, I’m doing everything I can, so there’s nothing I can do about it.

"I don’t have a six-pack. Maybe I don’t even want a six-pack. It doesn’t sound very appealing."

REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

J.K. Rowling

According to Allure, Rowling posted a photo of her standing alongside Serena Williams when someone commented that Williams was "built like a man." But being the legend that Rowling is, she posted a photo of Williams rocking a form-fitting red dress with the caption, "Yeah, my husband looks just like this in a dress. You’re an idiot." 

REUTERS/Neil Hall

Emma Stone

While the actress was promoting "Spider-Man" she said that she had been profoundly affected by nasty comments made about her appearance online. 

"I firmly believe that nothing really affects you or can really bother you if you don’t already feel that way about yourself. I’ve seen a lot of comments that say, ‘Eat a sandwich’ or ‘She looks sick.’ I’ve been looking at myself in the mirror being mean to myself. I’m not sick. I eat sandwiches," she says. "There is in no way is it my intention to be a bad example. That has been kind of bothering me lately. I’ve shamed myself for it. We shame each other online. We’re always too skinny or too fat or too tall or too short. They’re just confirming this feeling I have about myself. I’m trying to figure my body out. It bothers me because I care so much about young girls. We’re shaming each other and we’re shaming ourselves, and it sucks."

REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Kim Kardashian West

When people made fun of the weight she gained during her pregnancy, she fired back on Twitter.

"Anyone who has had a baby knows how hard it is to lose weight…your body totally changes! Making fun of me pregnant and making fun of me trying to lose weight now, shame on you. I’m not perfect but I will never conform to your skinny standards sorry!"

REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

Lauren Ash

A little over a year ago, the "Superstore" actress posted a post-workout selfie to put body shamers to rest.

"Just a friendly reminder that size 12 women workout," she wrote. "We’re not disgusting and lazy just because we aren’t a size 0. (And hey, if someone chooses to be lazy it’s really also no one’s else’s business.) #effyourbeautystandards #bodypositivity #honormycurves #celebratemysize #daretowear"

 (Photo by Maarten de Boer/NBC/NBC via Getty Images)

Sasha Pieterse

When the "Pretty Little Liars" actress noticed some comments about her fluctuating body, she took to Instagram to write, "As a lot of you have noticed my body has gone through some changes, and I want to clear the air and give you an explanation. I have been facing a bad hormone imbalance that has thrown my body completely out of whack. I want to assure you that I’m healthy and getting everything back on track! A big thanks to all of you who have been in my corner! We live in such a judge mental society that puts every kind of flaw, including weight gain, in the same category. And for those of you who are struggling with any health problem, hormone imbalance, and weight gain of any sort I urge and encourage you to please deal with it in a healthy manor. YOU and YOUR health are what matters, not anyone else’s opinions and assumptions of you. Getting healthy isn’t just about working out and eating right (however extremely important) it’s also about surrounding yourself with those who care about you and want to see you succeed and become the best you can be."

(Photo by D Dipasupil/FilmMagic)

Alyssa Milano

When Jay Mohr made fun of Alyssa Milano’s body for her baby weight, Milano tweeted, "So sorry you felt the need to publicly fat-shame me. Be well and God Bless. Please send my love to your beautiful wife."

(Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic)

Jennifer Lawrence

In an 2014 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Lawrence recounted a moment she was told that she would be fired if she didn’t lose weight.

"I know it’ll never happen to me again. If anybody even tries to whisper the word ‘diet,’ I’m like, ‘You can go f— yourself.’"

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Sam Smith

In 2015, Howard Stern called Sam Smith a "fat ugly motherf—-." Smith’s response? "Can’t believe what I’ve just read. Ignore."

 REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

See Gallery

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