SkinnyMe Tea called ‘evil’ for stealing eating disorder survivor’s image to plug weight loss brand
The actress has demanded social media firms to do more to protect 'young and impressionable people'
JAMEELA Jamil has slammed an "evil" detox tea company for using an eating disorder survivor's image to promote weight loss product.
Australian company Skinny Me Tea posted an image of Christina Grasso - who co-founded eating disorder charity - on their Instagram page earlier this week.
Reposting an image Christina had posted of herself relaxing in the bath, the brand wrote: "Little self love does wonders #detox #retox"
After realising her image had been taken without her permission, Christina - who boasts 32,5000 followers on the platform - asked for the company to remove it.
Publicly commenting on the photo, Christina wrote: "Hi! Would you please remove this?
"Unfortunately I did not give permission to use my face to advertise your detox tea and especially as an eating disorder advocate this is a problem. Thanks!"
After Christina failed to hear back from the brand, the issue then caught the eye of Good Place actress Jameela Jamil.
Imploring social media platforms to take a stand against brands who promote "diarrhoea juice", Jameela wrote: "This f***ing 'detox tea' company are using an image of an eating disorder survivor without her permission to promote their bulls*** product.
"This is so unethical, just like everything else about these bold, evil companies. They have no morals. This is so gross.";
But this isn't the first time Jameela has taken a stand against detox teas online.
Last year, the body positivity campaigner posted a spoof video mocking celebrities who promote "detox products" online.
Encouraging other users to comment on SkinnyMe Tea's photo, the former Radio One DJ added: "They ignore all of us. Because NOBODY is policing them yet.
"Not the government, not Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Tumblr. They're just allowing young and impressionable people to be hurt."
After more than 400 users flooded the comments asking for the image to be removed, Instagram stepped in and deleted it from the site.
In an interview with Newsweek, Christina said: "As an eating disorder survivor and advocate, I am fundamentally against things such as weight loss teas.
"They are dangerous not only physiologically but also reinforce the outdated idea that thinner is better and at the expense of one's health.
"I'm so grateful to Jameela who has and continues to do such difficult, impactful work in this space."
Christina co-founded the eating disorder charity The Chain in December 2017 to support women in the fashion and entertainment industries suffering with their mental health.
A spokesperson for SkinnyMe Tea told Fabulous Online: "We are an Australian-based company that complies with the Australian Laws and Regulations.
"We are also committed to the promotion of a healthy lifestyle including good nutrition, regular exercise and taking time out for self-care.
"This post was meant to be light-hearted as well as to promote the importance of taking time for yourself to relax and indulge in self-care.
"This photo was properly credited and has now been deleted but no harm was intended.
"We sincerely apologize if any offence was taken and commit to being more careful in the future of the images that we use in our posts."
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