Since I started my career as a showbiz journalist about 18 months ago, I’ve had the chance to meet a ton of A-listers – from Brad Pitt to Kylie Minogue and Naomi Campbell.

And whenever I tell my friends about it, they always ask me: what’s the most surprising thing I’ve noticed about these celebrities? Is it their diva demands, their obsession with perfect photos, or how they show up hours late to everything?

Honestly, none of those things stand out to me as much as one simple, yet shocking observation: nobody eats.

Seriously, it’s like the food doesn’t even exist at these events.

The Dinner Dilemma

Most of the events I go to are in the evening, which means I’m often running straight from the office, swapping my comfy trainers for heels in a mad dash.

I usually don’t have time to grab dinner beforehand, but since many of these events are hosted at some of London’s best hotels and restaurants, I assume I’ll be treated to a good spread of food, drinks, and entertainment. Sounds great, right?

When I walk in, I’m almost always greeted with a glass of bubbles.

After that, I usually mingle, scanning the room to catch up with familiar faces or meet new people.

About an hour into the event, the waiters start circulating with trays of food – a mix of delicate canapés and bite-sized treats.

For me, food has always been a huge part of socialising – whether it’s trying out a new restaurant with friends, cooking a meal with my partner, or sharing a Sunday roast with my family. But at these events, it’s a whole different vibe.

The Art of Food-Dodging

As waiters pass by, holding up trays of mouthwatering goodies, the usual response from the guests is a polite smile, maybe a compliment about how good the food looks, and then… a firm, “No thanks.”

It’s almost like there’s an unspoken rule that no one should actually touch the food.

One of the most extreme moments I witnessed was at a rooftop summer party.

An influencer posed for a photo by biting into a small cupcake, and after the picture was snapped, she casually spat the bite out into a flowerpot behind her.

It wasn’t even a full bite, maybe 50 calories max, but clearly, it was too much for her.

At another recent event, hosted at a fancy Mayfair hotel, there were shrimp tacos, bao buns, and even a tiramisu station. It sounded like the dream three-course meal, but as the waiters went around, I watched guests sip champagne and politely turn down the delicious canapés.

I stood in a small group, feeling the pressure not to be the only one actually eating.

But it’s not just peer pressure.

The truth is, it feels a little awkward trying to eat something that’s too big for a mouthful but too small to be a proper meal – especially when everyone else is just sipping their drinks and avoiding it.

Why the Aversion to Eating?

Some might argue that it’s not about the calories, but about the logistics of eating in a setting like this. With a drink in one hand and a canapé in the other, it’s hard to look graceful.

Plus, God forbid a camera catches you shoving food into your mouth.

One insider who works these celebrity events told me, “It’s a nightmare – no one eats anything.

We had a celebrity breakfast the other morning and all the food came back because it was untouched. It’s always the celebrities. Blame Ozempic.”

Ozempic, the weight-loss drug, has become a hot topic among some stars, with famous women like Oprah and Sharon Osbourne openly admitting to using it.

It seems like the pressure to stay slim is everywhere, even at these glitzy events.

Another source mentioned, “It’s just part of the industry – amazing food everywhere, but no one eats it. Instead, they take pictures of it.

We do body-positive campaigns all the time, but people still talk openly about being skinny.”

The Body Image Struggle

As a woman, body image and weight are things I think about daily.

I do my best to adopt healthy eating habits, but it’s hard to stick to them when I’m surrounded by models who are so thin, they’d probably turn down a cucumber sandwich.

It’s been 16 years since Kate Moss famously said, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels,” and it’s clear that this mentality is still alive and well among today’s stars.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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