Everyone from Melissa McCarthy to Adele to Kelly Clarkson to Lena Dunham to Kate Upton along with millions of other women around the globe have been called fat this week.
If it's not about their weight - because clearly not all of these people have weight issues - what do all of these people have in common?
They're all women.
They're threatening, bad ass women who are unapologetic about their greatness. So, how do people - men and women - react to that? By trying to put them in their place by making them feel flawed and insignificant - by calling them fat. By trying to convince them - and everyone else - that they're not all that, that they're worthless, unlovable and unimportant.
It's what we do to shiny pennies - we dull them so we can try to feel better about ourselves.
This conversation isn't about what's wrong with McCarthy or Upton or Clarkson.
This conversation is about what is wrong with you.
If you think Kate Upton is fat, there is something wrong with you.
If you think Kelly Clarkson is fat, there is something wrong with you.
If you think Lena Dunham is fat, there is something wrong with you.
If you concentrate on Melissa McCarthy's weight and not her talent, there is something wrong with you.
If you concentrate on Adele's weight - after giving birth just this past year - and not her talent, there is something wrong with you.
PERIOD.
11 comments:
I love this so hard.
My heart broke several times this week hearing these discussions - I'm trying to personally blog about it but it's tough. As an overweight woman personally, listening to friends and colleagues make these comments about these women hurts - how do they see me? Is that what they think of first with me? Thank you for this most excellent post!
Malaika - xoxoxox
Lynn - RIGHT??? It took me some percolating. It's absolutely confusing and enraging and just all around disappointing.
I agree with this so much! Some person called me fat once, and all I could think to say was: "I can change my weight, but you can't change the fact that you're ugly on the inside by making comments like that". It was so upsetting to me. I didn't even know this person.
There aren't enough ways to express how much I love this, and you for actually saying it.
Nova! Ughhh, WTF??? I'm so sorry that happened to you. That person can suck it. For real.
Samantha! THANK YOU! XOXOXOXOX
Liza, you're badass!!!
I totally agree. I love that Lena Dunham pushes the boundaries of what's considered beautiful on 'Girls'. And I absolutely think Melissa McCarthy is AMAZING!!! She is so talented. She steals every acting vehicle she is in and it has nothing to do with size so Rex Reed can just have another steak clogging up his arteries while she shines. Look how bigger men are exhalted while curvy women are vilified. It's ridiculous.
I think Adele got a lot of criticism for wearing all black to the AMAS so she went the opposite direction this time. I'm not a fan of the dress pattern but she is super gorgeous and we all know unmatched vocally.
Some of my curvier friends get a lot more male attention than the beanpoles. Why? They have better personalities and they have confidence in their bodies. Men like a little something to hold on to! In the age of social media everyone has been given a voice, and sometimes that voice is very very ugly.
YES. MA'AM!!!! Had an unfortunate Facebook discussion with a dumb person about Adele recently. "She'd just be so much more marketable if she wasn't fat." ARE YOU KIDDING? I adore Girls, and Lena Dunham kicks ass, because she just doesn't give a shit, and that's what beauty is. Didn't know much about Melissa McCarthy until Bridesmaids, but she is a comedic genius. Just the clip during the credits alone from "This Is 40" had me rolling. You are 100% right, Liza, and people who are missing out on these amazing people because they're "FAT", well. They're STUPID. So there!
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