Hello!

30 Comments

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.”

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

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.
  • 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.

    Reply

  • 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.

    Reply

  • Oh wow it would be ok if all customers got one irrespective if size

    Reply

  • I wouldn’t be offended but I could see how people might be. The marketing department really needs to think these things through.

    Reply

  • I probably wouldn’t think much about it.

    Reply

  • They definitely need to sit down with their marketing & promotions team THATS for SURE!

    Reply

  • It certainly wasn’t a very wise move.

    Reply

  • What an interesting alliance and brand partnership. Certainly not helpful to Forever 21. Not sure who thought this was a good idea.

    Reply

  • Hmm, a bit strange as an inclusion from this shop


    • It is indeed peculiar and seems somewhat misplaced too.

    Reply

  • It’s a bit weird but I think people should not be so precious about it.

    Reply

  • 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.

    Reply

  • 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

    Reply

  • 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.

    Reply

  • Personally I would have found it a very nice gesture!

    Reply

  • I can see how that would be offensive to some people – not the best marketing ploy by any means!

    Reply

Post a comment
Add a photo
Your MoM account


Lost your password?

Enter your email and a password below to post your comment and join MoM:

You May Like

Loading…

Looks like this may be blocked by your browser or content filtering.

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join