Influencer Leaves Body Positivity Movement After Backlash

Gabriella Lascano opens up about her decision to distance herself from the body positivity community online.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Gabriella Lascano, a plus-size content creator, has decided to distance herself from the body positivity movement after facing backlash for a controversial video she posted in 2023. Lascano, who has over 600,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok, said she felt "guilty" for being part of the movement, claiming it had lost sight of "real health." The backlash from other creators, who called her "fatphobic," caused her to no longer identify with the movement. Lascano's decision came after the deaths of two other body positivity influencers, which made her reconsider her own health and lifestyle.

Why it matters

Lascano's story highlights the ongoing tensions within the body positivity community, where some believe the movement has become too extreme and lost sight of the importance of health. Her decision to distance herself from the label of "body positivity influencer" raises questions about the direction and messaging of the movement.

The details

Gabriella Lascano first started sharing content online in 2010, gaining attention from other plus-size women who felt empowered by her message. However, over the years, she reconsidered her platform and posted a controversial TikTok in 2023, admitting she felt "guilty" for being part of the body positivity movement, claiming it had lost sight of "real health." The backlash from other creators, who called her "fatphobic," caused her to no longer identify with the movement. Lascano's decision came after the deaths of two other body positivity influencers, Jamie Lopez and Brittany Sauer, which made her reconsider her own health and lifestyle.

  • In 2023, Lascano posted a controversial TikTok video expressing her guilt about being part of the body positivity movement.
  • In December 2022, body positivity influencer Jamie Lopez died, reportedly of heart complications.
  • Also in December 2022, body positivity influencer Brittany Sauer died just a week after admitting on TikTok that she had "ruined" her life through "food, binge eating and lack of self-care."

The players

Gabriella Lascano

A plus-size content creator with over 600,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok who has decided to distance herself from the body positivity movement.

Jamie Lopez

A body positivity influencer who Lascano says was like a "big sister" to her, and who died in December 2022, reportedly of heart complications.

Brittany Sauer

Another body positivity influencer who died in December 2022, just a week after admitting on TikTok that she had "ruined" her life through "food, binge eating and lack of self-care."

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What they’re saying

“I'm going to say something controversial, and I don't care. Health is real. Organs failing is real. Diabetes, heart disease, all that s--- is real. OK? It's not fatphobic to care about your health.”

— Gabriella Lascano (TikTok)

“Seeing a community that welcomes you with open arms and tells you there's no pressure to look this way, to be this certain weight, I mean, does that not sound like paradise?”

— Gabriella Lascano (The New York Times)

“I don't know for sure if Jamie and Brittany died because of their size, but hearing their own regrets, I couldn't help but think of myself. It was one thing to sacrifice my adventurous lifestyle. It was another to put my life at risk.”

— Gabriella Lascano (The New York Times)

The takeaway

Lascano's decision to distance herself from the body positivity movement highlights the ongoing debate within the community about the balance between self-acceptance and health concerns. Her story suggests that some influencers may be reconsidering their stance as the movement grapples with the tragic consequences of ignoring the risks associated with obesity.