Jameela Jamil reminds us why celebrities need to stop endorsing 'detox teas'

Jameela Jamil has spoken out on Twitter, posting an open letter calling celebrities to stop endorsing 'detox teas' for the sake of their followers' mental health.

It came after Cardi B—who is working alongside the brand Teami, posted a video to her Instagram telling followers they need to spend their money on this product; another day, another celebrity promoting diet culture on their social media making some easy cash. Celebrities are thriving off the self-hating culture embedded in society, and it's something Jameela Jamil has started to tackle head-on. Jamil has become one of the most outspoken critics on society's unrealistic beauty standards and how these have a damaging effect, especially on young girls, who it seems these detox-tea brands are particularly targeting.

My thoughts on this @FlatTummyCo poisonous rhetoric (that is pink and always marketed at young girls) pic.twitter.com/zSvNpm1kaK

— Jameela Jamil (@jameelajamil) November 23, 2018

In her open letter, she encourages her followers to "unfollow celebrities who try to push this nonsense on you" and "no doctors advise you use this stuff". Jamil only speaks the truth, celebrities push these products onto their followers who buy them because they look up to and admire them. These celebrities continue the narrative that women value their worth based on their weight and will do anything to look like these skinny celebrities. Instead of these teas, Jamil encourages her followers to "eat some damn vegetables or have some nutritious natural vegetable soup", because we "need fiber", something these teas don't offer us.

Another double agent for the patriarchy bites the dust... When will these women who are covered in plastic surgery stop telling their followers to drink a laxative to look like them? It’s so embarrassing and it’s so encouraging of eating dirsordered behavior. BE BETTER ALLIES! https://t.co/9hjcapRdwL

— Jameela Jamil (@jameelajamil) November 26, 2018

Later that week, Iggy Azalea posted sponsored content in partnership with Flat Tummy Co. to her Twitter. Jamil asks her followers why these women, who clearly have plastic surgery, keep encouraging their followers to buy products to look like them? She also notes that we clearly shouldn't be taking these celebrities advice on weight loss products when they have been paid to promote them. Advertising these products is highly unethical, they prey on young girls wishing they can look like their favourite celebrities. Women buy them because they are promoted as a 'quick-fix'—when we all know the best way to lose weight is to eat healthier and work-out.

Another problem is that the supposed health benefits of these 'detox tea' brands haven't even been proven. Most contain the ingredient Senna, which is a known natural laxative and can help with bloating and constipation. In one tweet Jamil says that the teas "give you diarrhea, which then gives you a flatter tummy for a day".

20 years ago celebrities pushing false patriarchal ideals onto other women could be excused for not understanding the ramifications of this bad behavior, as there was less information and no social media and no mainstream Body positivity or mental health awareness. But NOW?

— Jameela Jamil (@jameelajamil) November 26, 2018

These advertisements perpetuate diet culture and that being skinny is the best thing ever. Social media is good for making women feel bad about themselves and these celebrities thrive off that and look to make money off it. Jameela Jamil is tackling these problems head-on and proves she isn't afraid to speak out about these issues our society faces. Jamil has started a body-positive social media movement called I Weigh, used to promote women's self-worth and achievements rather than a number on a scale, and has also denounced the use of photoshop, in attempts to shine a light on damaging weight-loss culture. Bringing attention to these unethical advertisements is something women need to know about; celebrities need to stop endorsing these toxic products for the sake of women's mental health.

It's time we stop promoting unnatural weight-loss and being skinny and Jameela Jamil is here to make sure that happens, one tweet at a time.

Featured image: Jessica To'oto'o on Unsplash