AIBU to ask that an Instagram post be taken down?

[Threetrees745]

I recently came across a video on the Instagram "for you" page where a woman stated that it was possible for women to gain body fat in a calorie deficit due to hormones and if you sign up for her (very expensive) plan, she will show you how to fix this.
The post was aimed at post partum mums who I already feel are probably feeling at their most vulnerable and not all of them will be happy with the sudden change in their bodies, so to give them false information on the basis of selling something to them is very disingenuous.

I commented saying that scientifically that it's not possible to gain significant amounts of boday fat whilst being in a calorie deficit as body fat is a physical material and it cannot be simply manifested out of nowhere, you need energy (e.g calories) to create it. I then suggested that perhaps people are eating more calories than they believe as it can sometimes be surprising what food is calorie dense at low volume.

I believe my comment was polite bit challenged the creator to explain more about her theory and perhaps provide some evidence. Everything then spiralled from there and ai recieved a complete shitstorm of abuse from her followers calling me all sorts and then 2 days later, I had a notification that the creator had made a video about me and posted on Instagram calling me a bully and a troll where she clearly displays my Instagram handle and my profile picture which has me, my husband and my step son in it.

I asked her to remove it as I didn't give her permission to use my details in this manner and she messaged back saying I don't have any rights as I commented on her Instagram in the first place.

I have reported the post to Instagram as harassment but was I unreasonable to 1. Say what I said in the first place 2. Ask her to remove the nasty video when it escalated?

Well, you’re not unreasonable to ask her to delete it but she’s under no obligation to do so.
You put your thoughts in the public domain.
It’s not nice though and I hope your report to Instagram is upheld and they remove it.

Don't put photos you don't want shared online

People say all sorts of things on Instagram in order to make money. They don't have to be true. Meta knows and does not care. They are also making money. It's up to the individual to be able to work that out unfortunately. Block them, make your account private if it isn't already, remove the photo of your child, and move on.

Don't wrestle with a pig, you both get dirty and the pig likes it.

She and her crazy followers shouldn't have escalated the situation to that degree, if you only made a polite (but challenging) comment or two, but unfortunately that's how some people behave online, and the type to promote or follow pseudo-scientific weight-loss plans are more likely to be wild-eyed and fanatical in their response to any type of challenge.

YANBU to ask for the post to be taken down, but tbh, I wouldn't bother with this type of comment again. There's little chance of changing anyone's mind, and it's ultimately not worth the headache.

Fair comment. Just to clarify that my Instagram is private but she has zoomed in on the tiny profile photo that is visible which you can see us quite clearly.
I'll change the photo to just me.

People should be allowed to share a perfectly reasonable photo of themselves on their own profile without it being used by someone else out of context for malicious purposes.

There are people who take other people's photos and Photoshop their heads on other people's naked bodies, it doesn't make it okay because you shared a photo that included your face so therefore you were signing up for that or consenting to it in some way.

Sorry OP but it’s correct.

There are many many reasons for weight gain in a calorie deficit. All linked with metabolic issues.

I'd have said the same sort of thing TBH! I hate those sorts of "fake science" products that just spout "big word nonsense". And even more so, I hate those that target already-vulnerable populations. I come from a science background, and if something is horseshit, I'll call it.

I have a woman on my FB who is DEEEEEP into her MLMs. At the moment it's some Italian skincare brand - no one has ever heard of it - probably for a reason. She posted a side by side pic of before and after some cream, and I replied with something like "It's amazing what a different angle and lighting will do!"

A few days later she posts a long old ramble about her history in MLMs and how ohsoamazing this one is and yadda yadda. I clearly got under her skin. ;)

I did the same with that revolting looking Huel drink when it first hit the market. Absolute nonsense if someone thinks some ground up beans, pulses and additives can replace a proper meal.

Well, technically, yes you are consenting you your photo to be manipulated and used on some sites if you actually read the T&Cs...

I would. There's some sick people out there I'm sorry this has happened to you

They should, I absolutely agree. But they can't because some people are sick/weird/don't care who they hurt

I saw a post on FB last month where a woman shared a picture of a man who she said made a racist comment to her. Ok all well and good to shame him if it's true, but the picture she was circulating was of the man who made the comment in the background, with his 4/5 yr old son very prominently in the front. So this poor boy had his picture plastered everywhere with hateful comments that had nothing to do with him. I never put pictures of my dc on social media because once they're out there, they're out there for all the loons to see and do what they'd like with them. I don't think you were out of order op, you just should never comment on anything unless it's a buttoned up account with no real identifying information or photos

Thank you. It felt really threatening and I was quite shaken up by it afterwards especially because there is nothing to stop her crazy followers finding my Instagram profile now.
She has thousands of followers so I honestly didn't expect she would even reply to my comment let alone make a video about me!