Drew Barrymore posted a video on TikTok last week with a pizza-related life hack that has her followers in an uproar. The actress showed how she sometimes gets the satisfaction of eating pizza toppings without eating the bread beneath them. She demonstrated her method which she called “a pizza salad.”
Barrymore was leaning over a typical-looking takeout pizza box and in the video, where she wore a t-shirt and seemed to be enjoying a casual night in. She explained her reasoning as she prepared a paper plate with some salad from the pizza shop on it. She then picked up a slice of pizza and a fork, scraping the cheese, sauce and toppings onto the salad and discarding the bread. After a splash of dressing, Barrymore mixed up her concoction and dug in.
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Barrymore made no mention of weight loss or calorie-counting in the video. Instead, she suggested that this could be a useful tip for people who are gluten intolerant, or who are avoiding wheat for some other reason. Still, many commenters presumed this was a tip to manipulate body composition, and they had some hot takes.
“Drew, I’m filing a lawsuit on behalf of pizza,” wrote comedian Mike Birbiglia. Another commenter joked that Barrymore should go “straight to prison” for this video, but some felt that the actress was “onto something.”
Barrymore’s video has now escaped the realm of TikTok and is making waves elsewhere on social media. Here’s a look at how the viral response has played out.
Surprised
Seeing the headlines, many fans assumed they were about to read an article about Barrymore folding her pizza, or eating it with a knife and fork. When they saw her real method, they were aghast.
Intrigued
Some fans found themselves surprisingly interested in Barrymore’s approach, thinking it might be a way to enjoy pizza when it was the only option available.
Reinventing the Wheel
Many commenters pointed out that versions of Barrymore’s creation already exist in various forms. However, her supporters argued that it was more about making the most out of a common meal when it’s the only option at a function or event.
Body-Shaming
Some viewers argued that Barrymore’s video could not be separated from diet culture and body-shaming, even if the actress herself did not frame it that way.
Bigger Problems
Some disgruntled viewers also wondered why this video was trending with so much other big news to process last week.
Barrymore Loyalists
Some die-hard fans said nothing about this pizza controversy โ only that they stand with Barrymore on principal, even on an issue like this.
Restrictive Diets
Finally, some commenters remarked on how this trick would be useful for the keto diet, some forms of the paleo diet or other unique restrictions.