If you asked black people across the Caribbean and Africa as well as the Latino community, you would hear praises sung of plantains.

After all, which other fruit is as delicious and versatile as the distant cousin of the banana?

In light of a TikTok video alerting plantain lovers of the calories per serving, hundreds of black people and Latinos are today (March 9) joining forces on social media to denounce the public service announcement for ‘trying to steal their joy’.

The video, released by Bryanne Hackman through her nutrition page @bestbodyafrica, suggests that a single serving of fried plantains packs 1,017 calories.

The Briton posted the video on February 23, urging plantain lovers to keep enjoying the fruit, but in moderation.

“And this isn’t to say fried plantain is bad. You can definitely have a healthy lifestyle, just watch the portion,” she said.

@bestbodyafrica #nutritionexpert #plantain ♬ original sound – Bryanne Hackman

According to data from the keto-friendly website, CarbManager.com, a small, fried plantain—at a weight of 171 grams—provides 431 calories per serving.

In response, another TikTok user, @beverlyadaeze, questioned on Tuesday (March 8) why this information was even necessary to begin with. She seemingly concluded that Hackman was only interested in ‘disparaging’ the goodness of plantain.

User @beverlyadaeze, who shared her reply on Twitter to viral acclaim, said her video was in support of “plantain lovers” worldwide.

“My sister, who asked you? Who asked you? Nobody. It’s like you woke up and said ‘What can I do to Africans, Caribbean people, Hispanic people…what can I do to take away their joy this morning? I want them to lament’; that’s what you said,” @beverlyadaeze argued.

“Okay, we didn’t know! So what do you want us to do now? We should start frying stone? You people are so against happiness. Eh? You choose to be an enemy of plantain for what?” she questioned further.

This one is for the plantain lovers. Together we fight ✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/AgipltTBV9

— International Slay Mama (@beverlyadaeze) March 9, 2022

Many African and Caribbean Twitter users have sided with @beverlyadaeze, declaring that the information will not dissuade them from enjoying plantains and any attempts at ‘bad-mouthing’ the fruit will be met with strong objection.

Some within the Twitterati have gone as far as to scrutinise Hackman’s pronunciation of plantain as ‘proof’ that she doesn’t appreciate the fruit and resorted to launching a ‘cultural attack’.

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