Model Sara Sampaio Called Out Jameela Jamil Over a Tweet About Drugs and Eating Disorders
UPDATED, Oct. 16 at 2:00 p.m. : Jamil responded to Sampaio by bringing up Victoria's Secret's problematic track record.
You also proudly work for a transphobic, fat phobic company @SaraSampaio . Victoria’s Secret is a brand that sets out to exclude most women, so I would check yourself on that before you start policing me for calling out an industry wide epidemic of harm to young girls. https://t.co/e8HKFPQ71X
— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) October 16, 2019
Sampaio responded in kind, admitting that VS has made mistakes, but refusing to further the Twitter "feud."
I proudly work for a company that has made mistakes and that understands that and has been working on changing that, just like you have made big mistakes in the pass too. I’m also not someone that is going to resource on personal attacks to try to win some stupid twitter feud!
— Sara Sampaio (@SaraSampaio) October 16, 2019
Jamil seemed to put an end to the dialogue by wishing Sampaio luck in her prospective activism.
If you’re speaking out against what your company did then GREAT. I look forward to seeing your activism on that with your big profile. You seem passionate about speaking out. So best of luck to you on helping young girls and trans people in this business. ❤️
— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) October 16, 2019
Actor and activist Jameela Jamil has come under fire today for something she posted to Twitter on Sunday.
The Good Place star shared a clip from a fashion show that showed a model dancing and having fun, with the caption, "Oh my god this looks like the most fun, and not a long-starved terrified teenager in sight. Beautiful."
Oh my god 😍😍😍 this looks like the most fun, and not a long-starved terrified teenager in sight. Beautiful. https://t.co/hck5n6e9Xu
— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) October 13, 2019
Model Sara Sampaio called her out for generalizing, saying that not all models were starving and miserable. Jamil wasn't satisfied to let things go, however, and the two clashed online.
How about celebrating someone without bringing other people down? Calling runway models “long-starved terrified teenager” is extremely offensive. From someone that is always preaching for body positivity this just screams hypocrisy. https://t.co/JOBtY0yrui
— Sara Sampaio (@SaraSampaio) October 16, 2019
Sampaio wasn't the only one to call out Jamil's characterization of models. Several Twitter users supported Sampaio's point that calling a whole group of people "starved scared teenagers" was offensive. They added that the modeling industry isn't the only one with a fixation on looks or bodies.
Calling Runway models starved scared teenagers is extremely offensive for many working professional models who willing pursue the career. This the same judgement apply to Child actors, gymnasts etc
— Papa Cuba (@ThaboBluebird) October 13, 2019
RELATED: Jameela Jamil Isn't Afraid to Walk Away From Deals Where She's Offered Less Money Than Men
Sampaio noted that the problems that Jamil presented exist outside of the modeling world, too. "Eating disorders, drugs and cocaine use aren’t a exclusive problem of models, it’s a huge problem is society as a whole."
You didn’t say all models, sure, but you still chose to attack girls just so you can celebrate others. Eating disorders, drugs and cocaine use aren’t a exclusive problem of models, it’s a huge problem is society as a whole. And when you talk like you know for sure majority of https://t.co/4hAIf379WP
— Sara Sampaio (@SaraSampaio) October 16, 2019
The barbs kept flying, with Jamil defending her opinions and saying that Sampaio was living in a "bubble" if she was willing to continue the argument.
I didn’t say all models in my tweet so try to calm down. But I will say there is a *vast* majority issue with young girls starving themselves, and using drugs and cocaine to control their weight, to meet the very small sample sizes. If you don’t see that, then you are in a bubble https://t.co/K3DkuRmIG7
— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) October 16, 2019
Fans were divided, with some supporting Jamil's stance.
A fun catwalk with clothes I'd actually buy... 😮 More of this sort of thing 👍🏼😁
— Belle 🧚🏻♀️ (@BelleD1990) October 13, 2019
Aren't they amazing?! They are a crew of Afro-Austrian models/dancers. The original link and music can be found on their IG! (But I still haven't found where to get those amazing dresses 👗😍) https://t.co/yWnwM4Y3I9
— Kath Toumbourou (@kathtea) October 13, 2019
RELATED: Jameela Jamil Calls It Like She Sees It
Others saw Jamil's statements as hypocrisy, since she was celebrating one body type while seeming to put another down.
You can’t scream body positivity but use another body type as a stepping stone to push your agenda Jameela. You do this constantly and it’s sickening.
— HM✨ (@___hm_xo) October 13, 2019
Promoting body positivity is about celebrating ALL shapes and sizes, as long as the person is healthy. And if they are unhealthy, then it should be about helping them become healthy. So I completely agree and understand what you’re saying!👏🙌
— Laura (@LauraMcC5) October 16, 2019
Twitter user Rachael may be the one to be pointing the finger in the right direction, saying that it was the industry, not the individuals, that need to be addressed. It's not the models, but the fashion industry that needs to take a closer look at the way it presents women's bodies.
She's talking about the standards set on runway models. It is an obvious problem that runway models often starve themselves because of the standards placed on them. She isn't making fun of the scared teenagers, she's pointing out that shit industry that made them that way.
— rachael 🏹🦋💖 (@ohheyimrachael) October 16, 2019
