Celebrities

Keke Palmer Responds To Backlash Against Comments About Poor People’s Diets

Actress Keke Palmer made some problematic comments about EBT cards on Monday—and the backlash was swift. Palmer, who has been in the entertainment industry for years, has largely avoided making controversial statements. But with her since-deleted tweet about EBT cards, she drew some negative attention. 

https://twitter.com/4WheelWorkOut/status/1325910574677467136

In the tweet, Palmer wrote “Imagine if your EBT card could only work on healthy items…” The tweet was problematic to many, who thought that Palmer was shaming the poor.

Critics responded to Palmer’s comment by asking her to think about many families’ financial reality. 

https://twitter.com/radsteph_/status/1325888151781400577

https://twitter.com/Forever_Tempted/status/1325818553975664641

Others made memes mocking Palmer by positioning her as the food police, out to get poor folks who buy junk food instead of organic kale. 

Palmer wrote a response on her Instagram account and tried to explain herself. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHXwTK2j16L/?utm_source=ig_embed

“I have been eating extremely healthy lately and I have been sad about my debit card balance because of it,” she wrote. “Healthy food is more expensive for a reason. It’s fresh, good for you and gives you energy. Bad foods are bad for a reason. They last long, they taste good because of tons of sodium and they aren’t expensive because they’re honestly not food.” 

“Mostly likely they are food-LIKE products. In any event imagine if you could get whatever healthy foods you wanted on your EBT card. Like all the healthy foods could swipe for free. Pretty much a reward for being healthy but even more so giving homes a break that want to eat healthy but can’t afford it!” 

https://twitter.com/KekePalmer/status/1325817175974825984

On Twitter, Palmer wrote that her tweet “was pertaining to issues w/ healthy foods being [too] expensive & thinking it should be free for those w/ EBT cards. This was not a suggestion for solving all low income issues. Solely a hopeful solution [for] those with EBT that want to run it up w/ meat & produce.” 

Still, folks were unhappy that Palmer doubled down instead of listening and learning.

Celebrities are often accused of being out of touch with reality. Perhaps Palmer had good intentions, but we should always listen and reflect when we upset people with our words.

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Patricia Grisafi

Patricia Grisafi, PhD, is a freelance writer and educator. Her work has appeared in Salon, Vice, Bitch, Bustle, Broadly, The Establishment, and elsewhere. She is passionate about pit bull rescue, cursed objects, and designer sunglasses.