Actress, singer, and TV personality Keke Palmer is receiving backlash from her fans after her comments on EBT food benefits and healthy eating.
What We Know:
- On Monday Palmer tweeted, “Imagine if your EBT card could only work on healthy items,” which she has recently delated. Palmer posted another tweet directed to the newly elected Vice President Kamala Harris.
Hey @KamalaHarris I know you just started but me and my friends were talking about it and we think EBT cards should swipe free on all items considered HEALTHY. Xoxo
— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) November 9, 2020
- Shortly after posting the tweet people began to criticize her, saying she is out of touch with the realities of food insecurities, and due to her social status, she shouldn’t speak for people who lack the financial options for healthier foods.
- EBT cards, also known as food stamps, allow for low-income families and individuals to purchase groceries each month.
- Palmer continued to comment back and forth with many who had diverse opinions on her tweet. Many commented on the pricing on food items such as desserts and other processed products costing less than healthier options such as fruits and vegetables.
- Many individuals felt as if Palmer was being ignorant of the true problems at hand when it comes to access and financial barriers that hid the purchases of healthier options.
To clarify my tweet was pertaining to issues w/ healthy foods being 2 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 4 those with EBT that want to run it up w/ meat & produce.
— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) November 9, 2020
- Palmer went on to share a post of a woman in Atlanta that is helping her community by placing fridges around the city and storing fresh food options for people to have access to better options.
🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/JnBBQUcC2P
— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) November 10, 2020
- Palmer also went to Instagram to further clarify what she meant by her tweet and to offer some transparency into her own situation dealing with affording to eat healthier.
Despite how many may feel about Palmer’s comments on EBT and healthy foods, there is not doubt that many struggle to live a healthier life due to the cost of healthier food options.