A recent class-action lawsuit against David Protein, filed in January, alleges the company misrepresented the number of calories and fat in its popular, healthy-branded protein bars, claiming that they had “way more” of both than customers were led to believe.
Now, in response to the lawsuit, social media is having a field day with comparisons to the 2004 movie Mean Girls, with one TikTok user and apparent David customer posting: “I have been Regina Georged.”
Here’s a quick brief on what’s happening.
Wait, remind me, what’s the Mean Girls plot again?
If you’re like me, you’ve seen Mean Girls a dozen times. The plot is a hilarious and biting commentary on the social pressure on American teenage girls today.
One major through line in the high school drama is when protagonist and outcast Cady Heron (played by Lindsay Lohan) decides to fight back against popular queen bee Regina George (played by Rachel McAdams) and dupes her into eating fattening Kälteen Bars, telling her they are for weight loss.
So how is this like the David protein bar lawsuit?
David says its bars have 150 calories, 28 grams of protein, 2 grams of fat, and zero grams of sugar. However, the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York last month alleges the bars actually have 83% more calories and 400% more fat, according to third-party testing.
Linus Technologies, the main defendant in the class-action lawsuit, operates under the brand name David Protein. Fast Company has reached out to David Protein for comment.
The lawsuit claims customers unwittingly bought the product without knowing its actual nutritional content, and it requests payment for their damages or $50, whichever is greater.
David Protein, for its part, did acknowledge the social media references to Mean Girls.
“No one is getting Regina Georged,” David Protein posted on Instagram on March 11. “And the David bar still has 150 calories.”
