Fat Actress or Phat Actress?
I have always loved Kirstie Alley. She is a talented, comedic actress, self-expressed, radiant and fun to watch. And these days she is creating a lot of headlines and some controversy with her new series, "Fat Actress." So, is she a role model? Or is her portrayal of a "Fat Actress" only feeding the fat girl stereotypes? Samantha and I think that it's great that Alley isn't hiding her curves or relegated to the back pages of a magazines as the "What happened to her?" girl. And for that we say: bravo! Hollywood definitely needs more of that on the red carpet. But what is the message that is being sent? The spin seems to be that she won't really be happy until she is telling us how much weight she lost on her Jenny Craig diet. And for a woman wielding as much influence as Kirstie Ally is right now, that is a shame. Frankly, the whole thing has left us feeling confused.
Here are two opinions, worth reading...
Size Acceptance writes that they "aren't laughing" at 'Fat Actress.'
NEW YORK CITY - The International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA) is not amused by “Fat Actress,” Showtime’s new comedy starring Kirstie Alley. After viewing the premiere episode, ISAA believes the show sends mixed messages to its viewers concerning weight and body image. For example, Alley herself perpetuates fat stereotypes of always eating, being clueless, slobbish and out of control. Alley uses fat-bashing language towards numerous plus-sized male actors, considers weight loss dieting and bulimic behavior while at the same time longing to be accepted at the size she is.
And, on the other side, from my friend Beth Schoenfeldt of Flo Inc in her weekly "Flo Moment":
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Phat Actress
Everybody has a fat day, a fat season, or even a fat year. What everybody doesn't have is a national campaign aimed at pointing out your eternally expanding hips and bulging belly. Anonymity has its perks and allows the luxury of getting away with your fat pants for a few days (or, okay, seasons.) Kirstie Alley, former Cheers gal pal and now the star of "Fat Actress" hasn't had that luxury. Her weight, a constant and very public battle, has been a perpetual topic of gossip in the tabloid press. Can you imagine being the source of national criticism andsnickering and turning the situation around to work for you? Well our girl Kirstie has, she's landed a TV show (however corny) and a contract with Jenny Craig; talk about lemons to lemonade...it turns out she has made millions from her weight gain! Taking a negative to a positive maystrike most of us as an eye rolling cliche! yeah, yeah, yeah, glass half full, but even you have to be impressed at how Alley turned her nay-sayers on their heads by profiting from what most people would consider debilitating.
(read more of this flo moment...)
posted by Real Girl Real World @ 4:00 PM
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