Lovato, who has been open about her struggles with eating disorders and addiction, initially criticized the shop, called The Bigg Chill, for offering items such as "sugar-free cookies" and other diet foods, which she claimed were "triggering" for her.
In response, The Bigg Chill pointed out on their own Instagram account that they carry items for diabetics, people with celiac disease, and vegans, among others. Lovato later acknowledged that she had "jumped to conclusions" and should not have criticized the store in the way she did, adding that she wished the labeling of different dietary options had been more specific.
Lovato has been calling out businesses that she believes "not only enables but praises disordered eating." In response to a direct message from Lovato, The Bigg Chill suggested labeling options for people with specific needs. Lovato shared an old Instagram post from The Bigg Chill that labeled some items as "guilt-free," which went viral, with many social media users siding with the shop.
In her Instagram apology, Lovato said she would be willing to work with The Bigg Chill to change the shop's messaging. "I'm human, and I talk about my struggles. And I'm passionate so I'm sorry that I got the messaging wrong. I'm sorry that I may have disappointed some people but I'm not coming after a small business as someone with a lot of followers. That's not what I'm doing here," Lovato said.
