Michelle posted this in my comments this morning but I didn't have a chance to bask in the insanity until this evening. I don't even know what to say to this. American Idol is no fat friendly show. From the first season the producers were always hostile towards fat contestants. They let them on, sure, but they had to be that much better to earn their spot. We kept hearing how American didn't want fat pop stars, didn't even want vaguely not waifish pop stars.
What happened? The logic of the entertainment industry was proven completely wrong. Don't worry, though. They haven't let that change their approach in any other respect. Just there is one place where we can be reminded that America is apparently not as inately fat hostile as we might have assumed. Time and time again, singers who didn't look the part got deep into the competition. Sure, after they were embraced by the entertainment industry they inevitably were swept up into countless diet schemes, plans, and promotions. Being honest, they all probably would have been doing that no matter what, but it kept feeling like Hollywood was being very pandering to them. Like, "Sure, you've proven that people like your singer, but you're going to go nowhere unless you drop 50lbs." This year, all 3 top women were non-thin to one degree or another. This includes the winner, Jordin Sparks, a 17-year old who had actually done some plus-size modeling.
You might thing a whopping 3 not-thin people on television for a couple months wouldn't be a big deal to the forces of fat hatred. I mean, they still dominate our culture and media, after all. What's the big deal about 3 women who'll be relentlessly pressured to lose weight for the remainder of their professional careers? Ah, but, if there is one thing we should all now about the anti-crowd is that they will accept nothing but total and complete domination. One sorta-plus-size young woman winning a singing contest simply cannot be tolerated. They clearly watch Idol, seething with rage at some fatty being allowed to pursue her dreams. How dare she! Doesn't she know there are hardworking thin people who could be on stage?
Of course, its not about aesthetics. They are always careful to keep up their pretense. No, no, its about an "epidemic". Won't someone please think of the children! Quick, hide the plus-size teen before anyone sees her and gets any ideas about thinking they are normal! Its an EPIDEMIC! Besides, she can't work that fat. Everyone knows that you can't work in the entertainment industry and be that awful to look out. Wait! I mean unhealthy to look at. Not about aesthetics. We swear! She looks like unhealth. That's the problem. Damn fatty.
The spokesperson trotted out to deliver this line mostly overplayed her hand. Heck, even Neil Cavuto was incredulous. She's named MeMe Roth. I first thought that spelling was someone making fun of her (Me! Me!), but that is indeed exactly how she spells her name. The Rotund noted that she represents National Action Against Obesity. I normally would never link to "the enemy" but its all almost too insane for words. You just have to go peruse and learn about how evil the Girl Scouts are and of her "boycott" against REDBOOK Magazine for its reckless employment of a size 14 woman. You can also enjoy a glimpse into Roth's profoundly anti-woman agenda as she saves most of her bitterness for women who don't stay skinny for their husbands. Just read her insights:
“Most women I know commit fraud on their wedding days--they weigh-in for the walk down the aisle with no expectation of maintaining that weight year after year,”
“Somewhere between the wedding reception and delivery room, many women abandon their brains, body and libido.”
“It’s wrong to be fat. It’s easy, but it’s wrong.”
“Dump your friends who plan to grow fatter with every year. Surround yourself with those who aspire to greater things.”
"I see staying fit as an obligation to my self and my family."
"Back in the 80s when I was Van Halen’s 'number one fan,' I did get the chance to meet the band. Eddie Van Halen made me promise I’d never get fat. He said I looked like something out of Playboy. Talk about making a girl swoon."
What can you even say? But this woman gets to talk on cable news, time and time again, just because she has asserted herself as an expert. Her credentials? Apparently fitting into her wedding dress. That's what we are facing in the media. To viciously attack fat people, you need only be thin. To defend fat people, even being a doctor won't qualify you to disagree with "common sense".
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