2024-08-21 02:40:02
Fans showed concern for Alicia Silverstone after she posted a video on TikTok where she appeared to pick a poisonous fruit off a plant and eat it.
The “Clueless” actor happened upon the fruit — which looks similar to an orange cherry tomato — in England, according to the video posted Monday.
“Okay, I’ve discovered something that I can’t figure out what it is and I need your help,” Silverstone said in the video, addressing fans. “I just bit into it because it was on the street and we were discussing whether this was a tomato or not.”
The fruit appears to have seeds in it similar to those of a pepper.
The actor, who is vegan, said she doesn’t believe it’s a tomato because of the way the plant’s leaves look.
“So, what the heck is this? Because, when you open it up it looks like that,” she said, showing a squashed fruit on the ground. “And if I bite it — I don’t think you’re supposed to eat this, but it’s almost like a pepper? Does anyone know what this is?”
Fans were quick to identify the fruit as a Jerusalem cherry, which is indigenous to South America and poisonous, according to GardeningKnowHow.com.
“Despite their cheery colors, the fruit of the Jerusalem cherry houseplant is toxic and should be kept out of the reach of curious children and pets,” the website warns. “Any part of the plant that is ingested can cause poisoning and even death.”
Ingesting the Jerusalem cherry can affect the gastrointestinal and central nervous systems, potentially leading to stomach pain, fever, diarrhea, paralysis, slowed breathing and delirium among other things, according to MedlinePlus.gov.
Fans expressed concern about Silverstone in the comments of her TikTok.
“Can someone tag me when we know she’s OK,” one commenter wrote.
“Why would ANYONE eat random, unknown things from the street?!?” another wrote.
As of Tuesday morning, she has not released an update on social media. A representative for Silverstone did not immediately respond to an NBC News request for comment.
The actor, best known for her work in the 1995 hit comedy “Clueless,” released a vegan cookbook in 2009 called “The Kind Diet,” where she encourages readers to adopt plant-based eating habits.
“By eating this way, you will become stronger,” Silverstone wrote on her website, TheKindLife.com. “Your immune system will work more efficiently as your body releases excess fats and toxins.”
