Gillette slammed for ad featuring plus-size model in a bikini as social media says it promotes 'obesity'
The razor making company Gillette has come under fire for posting a picture of a plus-size model in a bikini. Gillette took to their Twitter handle to share a picture of a plus-size model and blogger posing happily while on the beach.
The company's picture featured Anna O'Brien who is a plus-size fashion, fitness, and lifestyle blogger under its handle @GilletteVenus along with the caption, "Go out there and slay the day." Many Twitter users took extreme offense to the ad and said that the ad glamorizes obesity. Twitter users also shared that the Gillette is "irresponsibly" promoting an unhealthy lifestyle in order to gain profit and also questioned the model's health.
One Twitter user shared, "This woman will die of heat disease before @potus completes his second term. I hope she's just as happy and carefree for her last 6 years of life. Everybody should live themselves, but let's not call it healthy." Another user added, "It was hurtful when my obese mother died at 40 and couldn’t see me graduate high school It was hurtful when I was 500lbs and could barely walk. I've lost 150lbs & have much more to go I find this ad extremely offensive This is unhealthy & helps no one."
A third user wrote, "WoW, this is so unhealthy! Obesity causes cardiovascular diseases, type 2 Diabetes, sleep apnea, depression & certain types of cancer and death. Why would you show younger girls a picture like this? Another reason not to purchase your products!"
However, many comments also defended O'Brien and focused their aim on Gillette. One such user wrote, "There's no reason to be rude or unkind to someone who is obese and there is no reason @GilletteVenus should be encouraging life-threatening obesity. This would also be true if they used an anorexic model. I wish the model they used well but Gillette should know better."
Another user added, "Crazy how so many of you in this thread are her doctor! She has a right to exist in her body at any goddamn stage and she shouldn’t have to hide it until you’re comfortable with it. Unbelievable the level of cruelty in this thread." Anna O'Brien's Instagram account showcases a number of images where she proudly poses in skimpy clothes including a shot of her posing in Times Square sporting nothing but a bikini.
Gillette responded to all the backlash and said, "Venus is committed to representing beautiful women of all shapes, sizes and skin types because ALL types of beautiful skin deserve to be shown. We love Anna because she lives out loud and loves her skin no matter how the 'rules' say she should display it."