People call out Macy's for promoting eating disorders with 'fat shaming' plates

Macy’s is under fire for “promoting fat shaming and food guilt” after a woman posted a photo of plates with sections dedicated to different jeans sizes. The smallest portion is labeled “skinny jeans,” the next is “favorite jeans” and the largest one is called “mom jeans.”

Alie Ward, a podcast host, tweeted the image yesterday, prompting responses from thousands of people, many of whom called out Macy’s for their design, which propagates the idea that people must eat less to be skinny.

“How can I get these plates from Macy’s banned in all 50 states?” Ward wrote.

People responded to her post, many claiming that Macy’s is insensitive about “eating disorders” and “body issues,” and that the retail giant needs to remove the plates immediately.

Jameela Jamil, a body positivity activist, and “The Good Place” star joined in the conversation.

“F—— these plates,” she Tweeted on Sunday. “F—— these plates to hell Macy’s.”

One person wrote that the illustration on the plate isn’t indicative of anything other than “body shaming.” Their tweet describes how the small portions wouldn’t be able to fit a healthy amount of food — or even “hold like two chicken nuggets.”

Another wrote that the expectations the illustration sets — that eating tiny portions of food is what you need to wear skinny jeans — can enforce dangerous health habits, and “can actually kill someone.”

The plates were made by a brand called Pourtions and were only being sold at one location. Pourtions’ president Mary Cassidy told HuffPost that the brand feels badly if their plates, which were “meant to be a lighthearted take on the important issue of portion control,” were “hurtful to anyone.”

“Pourtions is intended to support healthy eating and drinking,” Cassidy said to Huffpost. “Everyone who has appreciated Pourtions knows that it can be tough sometimes to be as mindful and moderate in our eating and drinking as we’d like, but that a gentle reminder can make a difference.”

In response to the backlash the design faced, Macy’s commented on Ward’s tweet, assuring her that the product will be removed from all Macy’s locations.

“We appreciate you sharing this with us and agree that we missed the mark on this product,” the tweet reads.

In an additional statement to Yahoo Lifestyle, a spokesperson for Macy’s confirmed that they have since “quickly removed the plates,” which were only at their “Story at Macy’s location” — their in-store concept shop — at the retailer’s flagship store in Manhattan’s Herald Square, New York.

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