Major Retailer Slammed for Sending Diet Bars in Plus-size Orders

Forever 21 has been described as ‘fat-phobic’ after all of the retailer’s plus-size orders came with a free Atkins diet bar.

Twitter users shared pictures of their orders and called for the company to ‘re-evaluate its brand partnerships’.

The chain store issued a statement afterwards saying: “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.”

forever 21

One user wrote: “Diet culture continues to thrive because of companies like you who ‘subtly’ shove it down people’s throats. Please address this.”

I went from a size 24 to 18, still a plus size girl, so I ordered jeans from @Forever21 Opened the package, when I looked inside I see this Atkins bar. What are you trying to Tell me Forever 21, I’m FAT, LOSE WEIGHT? do you give these to NON-PLUS SIZE WOMEN as well? pic.twitter.com/ds8kUTs7T7

— MissGG????️‍???? (@MissGirlGames) July 19, 2019

The tweet was shared over 3,000 times, prompting other people to share pictures of their freebie diet bars.

The brand have been accused of ‘catching customers off guard’ but not everybody sees a problem with it.

“It’s nothing personal,” one user wrote, explaining how she bought some plus size and some small clothes as part of her order.

Forever 21 has released another one apologising for “any offence” the diet bar caused.

diet bar

However, many people are still left shocked from the unexpected delivery with one user noting diet could be seen as offensive regardless of a customer’s size.

“Even if that’s the case since when is it a good idea to include such an awful promo item with CLOTHES. even skinny women don’t feel great about getting diet food sent to them unprovoked,” she said.

Would you find it offensive?

Share your comments below

30 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 16 May 2023
    11:16 am
Im not overly sensitive. Its just like putting a Tim Tam in an order for size 8. They could then say “What are you trying to tell me…..that I should eat?” ….
I get Tim Tams in Beauty product orders, fancy chocolates also. I dont have an issue with it.

- - mom101628 said
  - 06 Oct 2019
    9:35 pm
It wouldn’t have offended me but I probably wouldn’t eat it as I’m not into extra snacks apart from the 3 meals a day.

- - mom371543 said
  - 28 Sep 2019
    2:37 pm
Oh wow it would be ok if all customers got one irrespective if size

- - becstalou said
  - 10 Aug 2019
    12:25 pm
I wouldn’t be offended but I could see how people might be. The marketing department really needs to think these things through.

- - BellaB said
  - 01 Aug 2019
    8:30 pm
I probably wouldn’t think much about it.

- - Sarah said
  - 30 Jul 2019
    9:33 pm
They definitely need to sit down with their marketing & promotions team THATS for SURE!

- - ella12 said
  - 29 Jul 2019
    12:18 pm
It certainly wasn’t a very wise move.

- - rovermum said
  - 29 Jul 2019
    9:49 am
What an interesting alliance and brand partnership. Certainly not helpful to Forever 21. Not sure who thought this was a good idea.

- - mom19782016 said
  - 28 Jul 2019
    6:33 pm
Hmm, a bit strange as an inclusion from this shop
- mom93821 replied
  
  29 Jul 2019 , 6:03 am
  It is indeed peculiar and seems somewhat misplaced too.
- - rachelvk said
  - 28 Jul 2019
    4:42 pm
It’s a bit weird but I think people should not be so precious about it.

- - mom93821 said
  - 28 Jul 2019
    6:27 am
A peculiar freebie/gift to send with clothes orders.
A sample item related to clothing I would understand but sending a diet bar is baffling.
It seems particularly wasteful if people do not want the diet bar and dispose of the diet bar.

- - tessie said
  - 27 Jul 2019
    4:27 pm
I can understand people being offended by this. With clothes the free gift should have been an accessory. If they want to promote their food it should be paired with a diet drink or other diet food. I would have just left the promo with the outfit and gone elsewhere

- - musicmum said
  - 27 Jul 2019
    12:43 am
Should not be mixing food with clothes, very strange, why not give them an accessory as a gift, it is pure advertising from the diet company, they should have tried a different way to push their products not a clothing store.

- - mom90758 said
  - 26 Jul 2019
    1:06 pm
Personally I would have found it a very nice gesture!

- - nadine_hill said
  - 26 Jul 2019
    10:59 am
I can see how that would be offensive to some people – not the best marketing ploy by any means!

- - Ellen said
  - 26 Jul 2019
    7:31 am
People are so quickly offended. When you don’t like a Freebie you could just say to yourself “that one is not for me” and chuck it in the bin

- - DaffyD said
  - 26 Jul 2019
    6:24 am
I can see why they are upset, especially when its quiet obvious dig

- - mom265671 said
  - 26 Jul 2019
    12:55 am
That’s a bit insulting, I can see how people can take offence

- - Blossom said
  - 25 Jul 2019
    9:51 pm
Not only that, a person who has food allergies has yet another product to read the label very carefully.

- - mish06 said
  - 25 Jul 2019
    8:08 pm
Freebie or not, I personally don’t think it was the best marketing idea!