Did they go too far?
When MTV first started filming 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom, they claimed their goal was to record the true lives of girls with unexpected pregnancies and to promote awareness for preventing them. However, after ten years on the air, it’s clear that the show has taken a very different direction.
Teen Mom and its spinoffs have gained a huge amount of popularity and a massive reach, and have been able to educate viewers about the dangers of not protecting themselves as well as drug addiction, criminal activity, and so on. And, of course, it’s also served up a healthy dose of drama.
But as the show goes on, more and more viewers tune in who admire and respect the cast members. Many of the moms are role models for young viewers who may have had similar experiences. In fact, the Instagram comments of all the cast members are often full of fans revealing how much they look up to the girls on the show. Even though this may be flattering, being a role model is a lot of responsibility.
Now it seems that some of the Teen Mom cast members are taking a step in the wrong direction when it comes to their impressionable fanbase. After sharing promotions for this controversial product, many are calling them out for promoting unhealthy habits and even putting their viewers’ safety at risk!
Controversial Update
The Teen Mom cast members’ Instagram accounts are full of adorable pictures of their children and families, gorgeous shots of their vacations, and behind-the-scenes snaps of them filming. But everyone knows that many of the cast members also choose to bring in extra revenue by promoting products to their millions of followers. From teeth whitening to meal plan services, it’s not uncommon to see several advertisements mixed in with the girls’ original posts, and many of their followers have simply grown accustomed to scrolling past the ads. However, some of the cast members have recently started promoting a highly controversial product that has fans divided.
“#ad I’ve really been liking @flattummyco’s new lollipops that just dropped this week. They’re designed to suppress my appetite, and I find they’re already started working. Over the past couple days whenever I felt like snacking, I’ve been reaching for these lollipops instead, andI find I’m not eating anything else between meals. You gotta get your own. #suckit #flattummypops,” reads one of Jenelle Evans’ recent Instagram posts. Another reads, “#ad I never thought I’d see the day that @flattummyco came out with LOLLIPOPS as a way to help keep my stomach looking flat, but they did! Since I have a massive sweet-tooth and I’m pretty much always chasing one of my kids around, this is pretty much the best it can get for me (yummy and convenient)! I get to have lollipops, keep my appetite in-check, and continue to work towards my goals for a fit + toned tummy. Yep, my cravings can #suckit. You guys should try these out with me - berry is definitely my favorite! #flattummypops.”
Farrah, Too!
But Jenelle isn’t the only one touting this new product. Farrah Abraham also shared a snap of her new product! “#ad I’m so excited to tell you guys about what’s already my new favorite thing; @flattummyco's appetite suppressant lollipops! 🍭I seriously don’t know how they did it, but they’re super yum and only have 35 calories with no artificial flavours or preservatives. I just grab one when I’m starting to feel hungry in between meals and they completely hold me over until my next meal. I’m obviously going to be carrying these around with me all summer 💁🏽. Ladies if you haven’t yet…you should really check them out! #flattummypops,” she wrote.
And Mackenzie!
Even Mackenzie McKee got in on the party, sharing a snap of her in workout gear with a lollipop in her mouth. She wrote, “#ad I wasn’t sure what to expect when @flattummyco came out with appetite suppressant lollipops but I figured they’d be good. Turns our they’re soooooo good! It’s been about a week and I tend to use mine between lunch and dinner (that’s when I found I was reaching for snacks as often as my kids) you know, just something to hold me over until dinner. And since I started using them, I haven’t been reaching for extra snacks and my stomach is already looking better. You gotta check them out for yourselves. #flattummypops.”
Dangerous Message?
This isn’t the first time that the cast members have promoted a product meant to help consumers slim down, and it’s also not the first slightly suspect product they’ve touted, either. But fans are concerned about some of the language in their promotional captions, as some believe they promote unhealthy or even disordered eating habits!
User @theheatherashley wrote, “WEIGHTLOSS PSA: Appetite suppressants aren’t how you lose weight, they’re how you gain anorexia. Your body NEEDS food to fuel it’s body or it will eat itself to make sure you don’t die. When it starts eating itself, your metabolism lowers, working against future weightloss.” User @kelseyfeldman agreed, “If you’re hungry then you should eat. This isn’t something to promote especially to the younger audience you have.” User @carrie.b.nongkhlaw even wrote, “Let’s take action guys as responsible adults!!!! REPORT THIS TO IG ASAP!!!!! The more people report the more IG WILL REMOVE!!! THESE types of INSENSITIVE ADVERTS are the reasons why kids have eating disorders!!!!” And @0711_v wrote, “as an influencer, you should be ashamed of yourself. these kinds of stuff leads to eating disorders.”
Viewers may recognize these lollipops as being involved in a recent controversy with a much bigger reality star. Kim Kardashian herself was recently taken down publicly for promoting the exact same product!
Shut Down!
“#ad You guys… @flattummyco just dropped a new product. They’re Appetite Suppressant Lollipops and they’re literally unreal. They’re giving the first 500 people on their website 15% OFF so if you want to get your hands on some… you need to do it quick! #suckit.”
Kim’s update made headlines when The Good Place star Jameela Jamil took to Twitter to take her down. “No. F*ck off,” she wrote. “No. You are terrible and toxic influence on young girls. I admire their mother’s branding capabilities, she is an exploitative but innovative genius, however this family makes me feel actual despair over what women are reduced to.”
She went on to say, “MAYBE don’t take appetite suppressants and eat enough to fuel your BRAIN an work hard and be successful. And to play with your kids. And to have fun with your friends. And to have something to say about your life at the end, other than ‘I had a flat stomach.’”
Later, Jameela celebrated when Kim deleted her advertisement due to all of the controversy. “Kim took the tweet down. Well done twitter people, Bravo.”
Obviously the Teen Mom cast members don’t have as much reach as the infamous Kim Kardashian, but their effect on the impressionable youth following them is still a concern to some. However, not all fans were upset about the product.
Odd Coincidence...
“I haven't looked into the lollipops themselves, but maybe I'm an idiot because it seems like a good idea? I'm definitely someone who eats when I'm bored so it might be helpful in that way,” wrote reddit user withyaboyfriend. User groblins pointed out, “jenelle commented, ‘No one is encouraging anyone to not eat. There’s no problem with encouraging things like this that help people get past unnecessary snacking, or eating out of boredom like a lot of people do.’ which is a pretty good answer coming from her tbh.” But user deniedbydanse retorted, “It’d be a good idea if it were regulated (God knows what’s in it) and prescribed by a doctor, but sold like this it’s famous people saying ‘I’m hot and skinny because I use this/skip meals and not because I have a ton of money for personal trainers/health teams/surgery.’ It also generally tells the girls who look up to them not to eat to see their results, which can be a dangerous message to send.”
Even “The Ashley” of The Ashley’s Reality Roundup got in on the conversation. She tweeted, “Isn't it amazing that basically every reality TV star discovered their love for appetite suppressant lollipops ON THE SAME DAY!? #miracles.” Teen Mom OG’s very own Simon Saran, ex boyfriend of Farrah, replied, “They better start sucking that lollipop or they will be sucking something else for the money. Just ask Farrah’s dad.” Classy as always, Simon.
Dropping Pounds
In fact, Jenelle, Farrah, and Mackenzie aren’t the only ones who have gotten into hot water for promoting weight loss tactics on their social media. Chelsea Houskawas also taken down recently for her weight loss product promotion!
“I’ll be blogging my entire journey, including how this has helped me make better choices during my current pregnancy, telling my fav profile foods and recipes and so much more that I love about Profile!!” Chelsea wrote on a recent Instagram update. “If you’re ready to get started and join me with Profile, use my code: CHELSEA for 50% off a membership!!! Such a great deal! Best decision I made after Watson and its helped me so much to remain healthy during this pregnancy!! Can’t wait to tell you more!! Xoxo.”
She soon updated with more information about the product and process. “About a year ago, after I had my son. I wasn’t feeling great about myself and wasn’t feeling like myself in general. I decided to sign up for [weight loss program Profile] and make a lifestyle change.”
She explained that “Before I knew it, I was where I wanted to be AND feeling great. When I got pregnant again, i was so glad to learn that they also offer a program during pregnancy, with a goal of achieving a healthy pregnancy with the healthy weight gain that you need. My doctor has been so glad to hear that I’ve been following their plan and making it a priority to take care of myself.”
We all know that dieting can be tricky, but Chelsea explained that it got easier for her as the process went on. “Once you get through the first couple weeks, it’s easy,” she revealed. “Now it’s instilled in my choices. It’s not like I choose a bowl of pasta now. I always choose the healthier option. It’s habit.”
She revealed that her healthy choices are something she hopes will up her Mom game. “Soon I’m going to have two kids under the age of two and I want to feel good and have energy. It’s affected the way I feel about myself. Being on Profile affects my mood. If I want to go out and do things – I just feel good.”
Oops!
As for Farrah, this isn’t the only controversy that she’s dealing with right now. She’s been making endless headlines after she went commando and flashed papparazzi at the Cannes Film Festival! Farrah appeared at an event in a gorgeous golden gown, but as she walked towards photographers, it became clear that she left one thing at home… her panties! Even though this would be a mortifying experience for anyone, some seem to believe that Farrah did it on purpose to get more media attention after being fired from Teen Mom OG. If that’s the case, then it certainly worked!
In fact, the image began circulating rapidly after comedian and movie star David Spade shared it to his Instagram.
“I’m scrolling through the internet. There’s Farrah Abraham at the cannes film festival. WHAT?! Remember when the cannes film festival meant something, it was a big deal? What is happening? … Let’s be honest, this chick? Bless her heart. She wears a dress that’s specifically made to see her cooch? Because that’s the way the dress is made and I’m holding it open!” (Then he makes some less-than savory remarks about Farrah’s “cooch.”) But David was just one of many voices who believe that Farrah’s alleged “mistake” could really just be a way for her to get her name back in the headlines.
“I have to agree with David spade,” wrote reddit user misspriss91. “I thought the Cannes was something very exclusive and fancy.What kills me is that this is completely unnecessary. That dress is really pretty and she would’ve looked a million times better if she would have not pulled her dress back and made sure everything was secure.” User GrayScale15 wrote, “She wants to be relevant so bad.”
But some defended Farrah. User disenchanted_elle wrote, “Who the f*ck does david spade think he is anyway? This whole thing is so gross on his behalf. He’s like what 50 years old using his ‘star power’ on instagram to pick on a 26yr old woman. His comments on the appearance of her v*gina are disgusting. This post says more about him than Farrah… He’s pathetic.” User iamthejury agreed, “Pretty dumb when people make fun of how her v*gina looks, then in the same breath wonder why she got surgery done on it. The ‘meat flaps’/big v*gina jokes over on his page are disgusting. Women are supposed to have labias.”
Of course, Farrah has never been shy about her anatomy. She even livestreamed the full procedure of her own labiaplasty!
What do you think about Jenelle, Farrah, Mackenzie and Chelsea’s weight loss promotion techniques? Are they just another fad, or could they possibly be dangerous to the girls’ viewers and followers? Let us know in the comments and SHARE this article!