Some people just can't win for losing. Take Bettiejo Elmore and Christina Phillips of "My 600-lb Life"--each has shed a great deal of weight with bariatric surgery. But they are being shamed on Facebook and Youtube over their weight loss. What's the social media beef all about?
Christina Phillips, Bettiejo Elmore offer weight loss tips
Both Christina and Bettiejo underwent gastric bypass surgery on the TLC reality television show "My 600-lb Life." Both women have had success with the program. Phillips has lost over 400 pounds and Elmore, over 200.
They and other patients of reality TV's Dr. Younan Nowzaradan are frequently asked how they managed to reverse crippling obesity.
So both women decided to take their weight loss tips on the road. They've planned a multi-city series of "meet and greet" events. They've billed it as seminar cum personal talk cum photo opportunity.
Facebook, Youtube fans hit "dislike" on weight loss talks
Well, actually, only a few have criticized the TLC "My 600-lb Life" stars. A Facebook group and one Youtube vlogger faulted Christina, and especially Bettiejo Elmore, for perpetuating a weight loss "scam." And this "bullying" as Internet commenters are calling it, has generated a heated debate.
It's not entirely clear what the specific gripes are, exactly.
The vlogger "2ThousandAnd9" was when eating through the entire video and a little hard to follow. But he seems to base complaints on the fact that the bariatric surgery patients are charging for their weight loss advice.
Are reality TV stars celebrities?
Youtube and Facebook critics were bothered that Bettiejo Elmore and Christina Phillips planned to charge $50 for the meet and greet and another $25 for a signed photo.
2ThousandAnd9 mocked them for acting like they were Celebrities. Having been on "My 600-lb Life" does give them a celebrity status. Kim Kardashian, the "Teen Mom" cast, Mama June of "Honey Boo Boo" the Duggar family of "19 Kids and Counting" and other reality TV are as much "stars" as Hollywood actors.
Where's the weight loss beef?
Some social media followers accused Elmore of scamming with various GoFundMe accounts. But then ironically, the vlogger suggested that the "My 600-lb Life" star should stick to online fundraising, not fee-based talks. There was a suggestion that Bettiejo would have nothing to say about weight loss.
While the Youtuber acknowledges that many people get paid to tell people how to lose weight, the TLC stars are unqualified to charge for or even speak on it. Since Bettiejo hasn't hit her goal weight, her tips are worthless, he claims. 2ThousandAnd9 also complained that the reality celebrities would somehow force folks to pay steep prices they couldn't afford. But it was okay to ask for money for nothing, via GoFundMe because that was optional.
