Fatshaming clothing retailer
Why
do you think a company made people angry about sending out free diet food bars?
Have
you heard of fat-shaming? What do you think it means?
Fashion retailer Forever 21 is in hot water after sending out free
diet bars with online orders of clothing.
Customers rushed to social media
complaining Forever 21 was "fat-shaming"women after they received the
diet bars with clothing orders for large women.
"What are you trying to tell me
Forever 21 - that I'm fat, lose weight?" asked one angry customer on
Twitter.
Forever 21 has apologized about its "oversight.” And it is insisting that all customers were sent
the snack bars.
I went from a size 24 to 18 but I am still
overweight. So I ordered jeans from @Forever21
Opened the package, when I looked inside I see this snack bar. What are you
trying to Tell me Forever 21, I’m FAT, LOSE WEIGHT?
The free items were in all online orders
but have since been removed.
"This was an oversight by us and we
sincerely apologize. It was not our intention
in any way."
However, other users, who had received the
diet bars with orders of clothing in smaller sizes, criticized those who were angry.
This is not an important issue they said.
Apparently @Forever21 sends out the
diet bars with all of its orders. But this has been criticized because it sends
a dangerous message to ALL of its customers. It could also trigger people of all sizes who have psychological eating problems.
Forever 21 has had controversies before. Several fashion designers, including Anna
Sui, Gucci, Diane Von Furstenberg and Anthropologie, have previously sued the
company for copying.
Forever 21 has also been criticized for allegedly "stealing"
art from Instagram and copying the work of independent
designers.
Try
to guess the meaning of the words in bold and match them with their closest
meaning from the choices in the right. Some of the answers are very close and
have similar meaning. The meaning of these words is how they are used in the
reading. Some of these words have different meanings in the dictionary
depending on how they are used.
The
answers are below the table.
in hot water
|
A
|
1
|
Strongly request that something be done/some
action taken
|
oversight
|
B
|
2
|
To forget to do something, to accidently miss
doing something
|
insisting
|
C
|
3
|
Some action that a lot of people are
unhappy/angry about
|
intention
|
D
|
4
|
Accused of doing something wrong but not
proven
|
Apparently
|
E
|
5
|
Something small that starts another action
|
trigger
|
F
|
6
|
To get in a lot of trouble for doing
something wrong
|
controversies
|
G
|
7
|
Obviously, easy to see
|
allegedly
|
H
|
8
|
Plan, desire,
|
A=6, B=2, C=1, D=8, E=7,F=5, G=3, H=4
Some example sentences using the new words or phrases from the
meaning of how they are used in the reading to help you understand better.
You must finish this report by
Monday or you will be in hot water.
The café owner apologized for
her oversight by not giving the customer their credit card back.
I insist to pay for your dinner.
I am sorry for lying, it was
not my intention to make this
problem.
It is apparent that we must study harder for this test.
Visiting my old high school triggers old memories.
Increasing the tax on alcohol
has been controversial.
There are a lot of allegations that he stole the money.
Some questions using the new words/phrases. Try to use the
words/phrases in your answer.
Why do they say it is alleged
Forever 21 did this action?
What lessons are apparent from
this story?
Do you think that the
fat/overweight people are too easily triggered?
What are some things you think
people should insist companies do better?
What are some other
controversies big companies have had?
Have you ever been in hot water
over an oversight? Describe the situation.
Have you ever had a good
intention but people misunderstood it?