Demi Lovato criticizes fan's unrealistic drawing of her breasts, prompting a social media user to fire back at the 'ungrateful' star with a 'body shaming' version of the illustration

  • Vladimir Serbanescu, a 17-year-old artist from Romania, drew an image of the singer as a topless mermaid in July
  • The image was inspired by a promotional photo of Demi lying naked in bed
  • Over the weekend Demi commented on a repost of the image, asking: 'Is that how my boobs should look?'
  • Demi received backlash for being 'rude' while Twitter user @hisillusion shared an edited version of the drawing that made her appear larger
  • Fans of the singer accused @hisillusion of body shaming her, noting that she has struggled with an eating disorder  

Demi Lovato has sparked a heated debate about body shaming after she called out a an artist for his unrealistic rendering of her breasts in one of his fan drawings — prompting another to turn the image into an unflattering caricature. 

Over the summer, Vladimir Serbanescu, a 17-year-old artist from Romania, drew an image of the singer as a topless mermaid, which was inspired by a promotional photo of Demi lying on a bed naked in celebration of her single Body Says. 

However, the young artist was left gutted this week when Demi, 24, commented on a repost of the image, asking: 'Is that how my boobs should look?'

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Fan art: Vladimir Serbanescu, a 17-year-old artist from Romania, drew an image of the singer as a topless mermaid over the summer 

Fan art: Vladimir Serbanescu, a 17-year-old artist from Romania, drew an image of the singer as a topless mermaid over the summer 

Being honest: The 24-year-old commented on a repost of the image, and said that although it is 'gorgeous' it is not what her body looks like

Being honest: The 24-year-old commented on a repost of the image, and said that although it is 'gorgeous' it is not what her body looks like

'It’s gorgeous but that’s not my body,' she added. 

Demi, who has been candid about her struggles with an eating disorder, appeared to have taken issues with the unrealistic proportions of her breasts and waist, leading many to debate whether her comment was uncalled for or simply an an extension of her advocacy for body positivity. 

After seeing Demi's comments, Vladimir reposted the drawing to his Instagram page, explaining that he is now ashamed of his work.   

Original: The image was inspired by this promotional photo for her single Body Say

Original: The image was inspired by this promotional photo for her single Body Say

Different version: A Twitter user known as @hisillusion shared this edited sketch of Demi, writing: 'Chill, I have fixed it for you'

Different version: A Twitter user known as @hisillusion shared this edited sketch of Demi, writing: 'Chill, I have fixed it for you'

'If I make your waist slimmer and your boobs bigger to accentuate the fact that I drew you as a mermaid, a mythological creature, doesn't mean I say that you should look like that or all girls should look like that,' he wrote. 

'That's how I imagine mermaids. 

'I worked a lot on that drawing and I was proud of it, but not anymore,' he added. 

Many fans of Vladimir's work insisted that Demi was being 'rude' and 'ungrateful' with her criticism as they praised his work. 

Support system: Although the post has been retweeted more than 41,000 times, some of Demi's fans accused him of body shaming her for no reason 

Support system: Although the post has been retweeted more than 41,000 times, some of Demi's fans accused him of body shaming her for no reason 

Sticking up for her: Many of Demi's fans pointed out that has struggled with an eating disorder 

Sticking up for her: Many of Demi's fans pointed out that has struggled with an eating disorder 

Sarcasm: Another Twitter user pointed out that they shouldn't be body shaming someone who used to 'starve herself' 

Sarcasm: Another Twitter user pointed out that they shouldn't be body shaming someone who used to 'starve herself' 

Sharing her thoughts: A woman named Sara agreed that Demi was being body shamed

Sharing her thoughts: A woman named Sara agreed that Demi was being body shamed

Her opinion: Demi, who is pictured performing at the Global Citizen Festival this month, appeared to have taken image with the original artist's rendering of her breasts and waist 

Her opinion: Demi, who is pictured performing at the Global Citizen Festival this month, appeared to have taken image with the original artist's rendering of her breasts and waist 

The backlash prompted someone else to create a similar mermaid drawing in which she has a thicker waist and drooping breasts.

'Chill, I have fixed it for you. @ddlovato,' @hisillusion tweeted along with the new image.

The controversial sketch has been retweeted more than 41,000 times, however, many accused @hisillusion of body shaming Demi for no reason. 

'I don't think it's funny. She had an eating disorder and she's being body shamed. That's not funny at all. It's hurtful,' a Twitter user named Sara wrote.

Proud of her figure: Demi often shares unedited photos of her body on her Instagram page
Proud of her figure: Demi often shares unedited photos of her body on her Instagram page

Proud of her figure: Demi often shares unedited photos of her body on her Instagram page 

Spreading the word: Some shared grabs of Demi's comment on Vladimir's post 

Spreading the word: Some shared grabs of Demi's comment on Vladimir's post 

'Not funny She had an eating disorder,' Hakuna Akata commented. 'It's a journey for her to love her body. She has the right to want it portrayed through art honestly.' 

And a Twitter user named Dan  added: 'So let me get this straight. Girl politely asks to be portrayed how she is, not "ideally", and the only thing she gets back is body shaming?'

Meanwhile, others pasted Demi's comment on Vladimir's most recent post. 

'I said it's gorgeous, sorry for saying anything at all. But it's equally offensive that someone would change my body because mine isn't good enough. Apparently [sic],' she wrote.

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