Demi Lovato has been sober for six years and she’s understandably proud of that. She posts to social media to celebrate her sobriety date and it’s an important part of her personal narrative. I like how outspoken Demi is about that and she’s surely inspired other people with substance abuse problems to get help. Anyway Demi was in a photo posted to social media that featured her holding a drink. (That’s above.) Her eyes were squinted a little, that happens when you’re out at night, and some a-holes speculated that she had broken her sobriety. This was made more complicated by the fact that in the photo above you can see the drink, that was uploaded by the woman in the front, but in photos posted by the other two people in the photo, Matthew and Sirah, the drink is Photoshopped out! It’s some kind of drink conspiracy and fans noticed, but Demi quickly commented that it was Red Bull, not an alcoholic drink. Thanks to Buzzfeed for explaining this drinktroversy (I’m sorry!) and posting these screenshots.
I’ve been sober for almost two years and sometimes I’ll buy beer for friends who visit. (It’s not my drink of choice.) I often worry that someone who knows I’m sober will see me and assume I’m drinking again. I have the same fear about social media photos (although I quit Facebook after everything that’s happened), that someone will think I’m drinking at that party or the bar where I went to see a band. Sometimes I’ll even go to wineries with my friends and I enjoy being the designated driver. You can’t avoid all social situations with alcohol and I wouldn’t want to. So if it was Demi’s call to photoshop that drink I completely understand. Good for Demi for clearing the air, but she didn’t have to.
Meanwhile Demi has been open and honest about her body image too. This has been one of her key causes and she recently posted photos claiming to show her “extra fat” and “cellulite” writing “I still love myself.” What extra fat and cellulite? She looks gorgeous. Also LOOK AT HER PURSES. That closet damn.
Just officially turned 6 years sober. So grateful for another year of joy, health and happiness. It IS possible. 🙏🏼
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) March 15, 2018
She looks great! I’d take her body any day
She doesn’t have to defend herself, she has openly admitted the last six years of sobriety has been very hard, add the pressure of having people accuse you of being dishonest just adds salt to the wound. She should be able to hold a glass in a photo without people assuming it’s alcohol. It’s so trivial to have even commented on it, the original commenter on the said photo really must have wanted attention. IMHO
Except that as CB says, she’s made it part of her (very public) narrative. If you invite people in, then you invite questions when something shady like a photoshopped drink happens. She addressed it, and we decide whether to believe her (or whether we even really care?).
I truly don’t understand the reasoning behind these kinds of statements. Being open about something is NOT inviting questions at all.
She can be open about the topics she chooses to be open about and still has every right in the world to draw her boundaries where she wishes.
I’m with Michelle on this: She doesn’t owe anyone any explanations whatsoever.
Baronsamedi, it’s not about drawing boundaries. She obviously can talk about whatever she wants. But I’m not going to shade someone for asking questions on a topic she has opened the door to. Like I said, she chose to respond and we choose whether to believe/care.
It must be so tough to be sober and living under the microscope because there are so many social situations that involve alcohol that, yes, people might assume they’re drinking at. I totally understand fans feeling concerned if they think someone they admire is in trouble (the singer in my favorite band is sober and I am guilty of worrying sometimes), but at the end of the day it is nobody’s business. I’m sorry that she needs to defend herself like this.
If you’re going to have an energy drink, put down that Red Bull and pick up a Monster, the energy drink of the Gods.
A lot of recovering alcoholics still want drinks with some sort of stimulant it seems.
Yeah so while I think she has good intentions with the body love stuff, I’m pretty over slim, conventionally attractive women earnestly telling all of the rest of us to love ourselves and our bodies. Feels entitled and unacknowledging of privilege to me.
I agree. It’s easy to love yourself/ body when your constantly being told how great you look, and reassured when in doubt. Confidence/self worth is based on not only from within but how your peers treat you as well. If you have a generally negative experience with them, well loving yourself is a little bit harder.
Dear me, are we adding Standard Weight Privilege to White Privilege?
Demi is not super slim like the fashion models, she’s a very reasonable and healthy weight and probably struggles to stay there due to her body type which may store more fat than she’d prefer.
Regardless – basically what you’re suggesting is that standard-sized people now acknowledge their privilege??? That it is so rare and blessed for someone not to be overweight they should keep shushed about it? I just can’t with this…
Having a naturally slim build is absolutely a privilege that people should acknowledge. Just like being conventionally attractive with no effort is. This isn’t even controversial.
I wish I had her cellulite, LOL
My ex was a recovering drug addict and he also quit alcohol. I used to feel very self conscious about drinking in front of him because I didn’t want him to be tempted by my occasional wine drinking. However, he drank A LOT of Red Bull. For some reason, he was able to replace one drink for another type, and it made him feel more secure in social situations with alcohol involved. So yes, I believe Demi.
I have a lot of respect for her being so open about her struggles (and you, CB). There is so much stigma, it’s hard to be open about it. It’s really nice to see someone being encouraging and thoughtful about sobriety and being able to stay on the wagon. I can’t imagine having to do this kind of emotional work on self-love and sobriety in the public eye, but she’s doing it well.
Being a Red Bull drinker, it is exactly the same color as Red Bull. I can’t say she wasn’t lying but I’ll give her a pass on this one.