Facebook apologizes for saying picture of plus-sized model violates 'health and fitness' standards

Facebook issues an apology.

Last week wasn't a great one for body positivity on the internet. When Australian talk show group Cherchez la Femme attempted to run a Facebook ad promoting its event "Feminism and Fat," the social network refused to display this accompanying image, which features plus-sized model Tess Holliday wearing a bikini:

(Image credit: (Cherchez La Femme))

The event's organizers were notified that their ad violated Facebook's Ad Guidelines for "promoting an idealized physical image," a policy that was originally intended to prevent users from promoting unhealthy standards of appearance. Facebook's Ad Team initially defended itself when producer Jessamy Gleeson contested the ban, explaining that the photo failed to comply with the website's "health and fitness policy" because it depicted "body parts in an undesirable manner.”

"Ads like these are not allowed since they make viewers feel bad about themselves," Facebook wrote, recommending the group replace Holliday's photo with "an image of a relevant activity, such as running or riding a bike."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Facebook has since approved the image and apologized for its reaction in a statement that cites volume of content as a reason for the mistake. "Our team processes millions of advertising images each week, and in some instances we incorrectly prohibit ads," the company said. "We apologize for the error."

"I can see that they were attempting to try to tackle eating disorders," Gleeson told BBC. "But at some point you have to consider that women of different weights exist on Facebook."

For her part, Holliday has spoken out about body shaming in the past and is taking the situation in stride. -Roxie Pell

See more
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us

Roxie Pell is the social media editor of TheWeek.com. She has previously written for Gothamist, Frommer's, and The Rumpus.