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Oh Uh-Uh: Amber Rose Promotes Flat Tummy Tea for Pregnant Women


This story originally appeared on Viva.

Amber Rose is promoting Flat Tummy Tea for pregnant women.

The SlutWalk Founder and supposed feminist posted to her social media a photo of herself holding a packet of the tea while sporting a long blond wig and a very pregnant belly with the caption that reads,
"Okay listen up @flattummyco just launched an Organic Pregnancy Tea to help us moms with those bloated, nauseous, blah feeling days! It’s safe to take while pregnant and breastfeeding." 
Rose added later "This is not a detox tea - it’s specially designed to help reduce occasional nausea and support digestion during pregnancy - haters stop riding the bandwagon and think for yourselves."
For anyone who is unfamiliar with how Flat Tummy Tea and other similar teas work, their entire draw is that they force you to go to the bathroom and usually feature a laxative. Laxatives in large quantities are not safe for anyone, but least of all, for pregnant women. While doctors may prescribe a specific mild laxative to pregnant women, it is doubtful that any doctor would agree to a Flat Tummy Tea, regardless if its "organic" or not.

A few questions: Is it even safe for pregnant women to consume these teas? Honestly, what the hell do pregnant women need with a flat tummy? How counterintuitive is that? Isn't the entire point of pregnancy for women's tummies to grow because, well, baby? Why would pregnant women even want this?

I am not the only one who had these questions. Once the ad was out, the internet acted accordingly...



Probably the most vocal celebrity voice that has risen against these teas is that of Jameela Jamil.
The body positive advocate and actress took to her own social media following Rose's social ad, saying " PREGNANCY PRODUCTS FOR... PREGNANT WOMEN?" She continued, "Is this FDA approved? Are we... fucking... KIDDING?", tagging the FDA's Twitter account to get its attention. Jamil later tweeted "So many women, with such big platforms, promoting such irresponsible f******, that it blows my mind...".

Flat Tummy Tea is not at this time certified by the Food and Drug Administration as noted by their own website. Yet, celebrities such as the Kourtney, Kim, and Khloe Kardashians, Kylie Jenner, Blac Chyna, Nikki Minaj, various Real Housewives, Reality Stars, and many others continue to peddle the teas across their social media.
What is more concerning is that Amber Rose has set a dangerous precedent. Pregnancy in and of itself is a challenge. There is already an insurmountable amount of complications possible before and during pregnancy. Pregnancy is downright dangerous and women still die every year from simply giving birth.

Add to that the unrealistic beauty standards set for women in general that pressures women to "snap back" following pregnancy, coupled with the emotional and mental toil being a new mom can create and posts like Rose's can create a perfect storm of dangerous expectations with disastrous results.

Amber, who claims to be a feminist and a champion for women's empowerment directly contradicts both her stance and otherwise good sense, and for what? A check? What kind of feminism is that; to directly contradict what you preach during your marches and events to peddle to a vulnerable population a product that can ultimately do more harm than good?

Amber is right in one aspect, both she and I hope that folks really think for themselves, especially when it comes to what they ingest, both literally and emotionally.
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