Warning: This post could be distressing for some readers.
Most of us are now aware that anorexia is a devastating and potentially deadly disease affecting millions of men and women around the world.
But somehow, that didn’t stop the good people of Amazon from releasing a game called ‘Rescue the Anorexia Girl’.
It was based on the traditional “whack-a-mole” kids’ game, but instead of hitting an animal, players had to throw food at a cartoon anorexia sufferer.
Related: Notes from an Anorexia survivor.
But apparently, that idea wasn’t appalling enough, because it got worse: if the player missed the girl, she kept losing weight. Until she died.
Nice one, Amazon.
Predictably, the game (which was available on both the Amazon and Android platforms) attracted furious complaints.
Related: ‘I now realise that I probably inherited my mother’s eating disorder.’
There was also a major social media backlash, such as this tweet from Leslie Richmond:
Horrified by Rescue The Anorexia Girl. This deadly disease takes 23 lives a day. It is not a game. Remove!#notbuyingit
Others, like Kelly Bradley, questioned how it was approved in the first place:
The game has since been pulled, but Amazon has not yet issued an apology – which is just not good enough.
Related: This powerful anti anorexia campaign is turning ‘thinspiration’ on its head.
Because mocking and trivialising a deadly disease is disgusting, no matter how you look at it.
In the future, please do better.
For help and support for eating disorders, contact the Butterfly Foundation‘s National Support line and online service on 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673) or at support@thebutterflyfoundation.org.au.
Top Comments
Amazon does not owe anyone an apology. It's a passive digital platform. They generally do not know about these things unless people complain. They were alerted to the game and removed it in a timely fashion. They did what they were supposed to do.
I don't know much about Amazon, but on the Android app store there is virtually no limits to the apps that can be loaded on there. Unlike Apple they don't really vet the submissions. I assume Amazon is similar.