Throughout this series, Harper’s BAZAAR consistently platforms celebrities who dole out dietary advice about ‘clean’ eating, and present themselves in the best light possible. This becomes intensely problematic due to their complete lack of qualification in recommending a particular diet (many of them point to pseudo-science to support their choices).
Ashley Graham tells you to cut out gluten to counteract sore joints, Kylie Jenner describes her wakeup celery juice routine (a fad diet trend started by ‘the Medical Medium’), and Ian Somerhalder talks through his salty, lemon water that targets the adrenals (what?).
This isn’t to shame their individual food choices, but to demonstrate that these diet recommendations are going out to Harper’s BAZAAR viewers with NO fact-checking. Maybe there’s some potential for more productive engagements here—sometimes the ‘What I Eat in a Day’ format allows people to talk positively about weight gain, record their eating disorder recovery, or shun fad diet trends and health misinformation. The series could even be a cosy exchange about cooking habits, but the messaging is too often revelling in pervasive diet and wellness cultures. Toxic ideologies about food are consistently upheld through smiling celebrity faces.
Grimes’ video is, however, the best thing on YouTube.