Jessica Simpson’s body has been the media’s sweetheart for a while. But apparently the honeymoon is over because Jessica Simpson has put on a little weight and she is, of course, being scrutinized to death for it.
“Yesterday, when I saw the pictures in the newspaper and they made some crack about her looking like she’s playing for the Dallas Cowboys as a linebacker, like her boyfriend (Tony Romo), who is the quarterback, I was so mad,” Rodriguez said. “Why do they have to pick on her?”
It’s so ridiculous that we rake women through the coals for gaining weight. We make cruel jokes about it. We show an endless number of before and after pictures to show the weight (pun intended) of the person’s crime. I found this comment to be especially ridiculous:
Today, the songstress looks like she’s having a little trouble strutting around on stage at the Radio 99.9 Kiss Country’s annual Chili Cookoff this last weekend. Dressed in a tight low-cut black top, high-waisted rib coverin’ mom jeans, and not one but two tummy-tuckin’ leopard print belts, the former toast of Hazzard County hardly looked comfy in her new curves.
Really?! So what, she’s not a size 2 anymore! So, she doesn’t look like an anorexic teenager! Does that mean she now has a hard time getting around the stage? Is that implying that people who gain weight (or are, “God-forbid,” fat) have a hard time moving around a stage for a concert?!
I think Jessica’s sister Ashlee put it quite well:
“I am completely disgusted by the headlines concerning my sister’s weight,” Simpson wrote Tuesday on her website. “A week after the inauguration and with such a feeling of hope in the air for our country, I find it completely embarrassing and belittling to all women to read about a woman’s weight or figure as a headline on Fox News.”
Ashlee Simpson goes on to say:
How can we expect teenage girls to love and respect themselves in an environment where we criticize a size 2 figure? Now, we can focus on the things that really matter.”
I would add that we can’t expect women of any age to respect themselves when we criticize ANY figure, not just a Size 2. If we truly believe that women come in all shapes and sizes (as people always say they do in situations like this), then no woman, no matter what size she is, should be criticized for what she looks like.
Jessica’s weight gain is yet another indicator that the world we live in is a cruel and merciless one that doesn’t allow for women to be who they are without critique. No doubt these criticisms will probably spiral the poor girl into a state of starvation mixed with an incessant workout schedule that will result in a tiny waistline once again. And at the end of the day, that’s what people want to see. They don’t want a “curvier” Jessica, they want to see a woman with a girl’s body! They want to know that perfection is possible and they want to see its possibilities lived out in their celebrities.
(Please note that the title of this post is just meant to be a funny exaggeration. I don’t have the slightest idea, nor do I care, about how much weight Jessica Simpson gained).
I was completely surprised myself when I saw this. Its sad, media seriously has nothing else to talk about.
Poor thing! I hate that hollywood does this to women.
[...] water, tv and an Internet connection, then you’re aware of this week’s breaking news: Jessica Simpson is fat. Though I’m a staunch advocate of skinny, I’m less concerned about her extra 10 lbs [...]
” No doubt these criticisms will probably spiral the poor girl into a state of starvation mixed with an incessant workout schedule that will result in a tiny waistline once again. ”
Oh, Tiff, I know you’re probably right, but it would be really nice if she didn’t capitulate to the bullying. It was such a disappointment to me when Jennifer Love Hewitt took a stand against people who criticized her body… and then she immediately lost a bunch of weight and then I saw her on magazine covers showing her new “improvements”.
Come on, Jess! We’re rooting for you!!! Just take care of you and don’t let the superficial jerks get the better of you!!!
–AGR
I personally don’t care about jessica simpson at all but this situation is really lame.
Personally, I wouldn’t take those jeans off the free rack.
If someone claims to be a vegetarian, socialist or an athlete, we naturally look to see if they match up to their profession, and if they don’t, we don’t take them seriously (and maybe snicker at them). But we all know that Jessica is an amazing singer and OK actress, and now that she’s gained some weight, the media became critical of her like a they would a person who claims to be a christian but cheats on his wife… different levels of social transgression but almost the same consequences, seemingly…
it’s so ridiculous… but you know what? She might be the healthiest she’s ever been in her life in a long time so good of her!
I was in shock when this made headlines! They should be focusing on her spiraling country music career (cuz her country music sucks!!!) and not on her gaining a few pounds. We r living in a twisted world!
By this time I’m *wwaaayyy* over hearing about Jessica Simpson, but as long as we’re talking about it….
….I will agree that she does not look anywhere near what I would call comfortable stuffed into those high-n-tight jeans, black tank top and two belts.
What terrible, terrible, unfortunate wardrobe decisions were made that day. To me, this whole thing is more about the ill-fitting clothing she was wearing than whether or not her actual size changed.
If she had chosen (or someone had chosen for her, I guess) a different outfit, one with a flattering cut and fabric, in the correct size, I wonder….who would have noticed those “extra pounds”??
And what about Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Kirstie Alley, Aretha Franklin, ADELE, and Beth Ditto? All still BIG girls but NO PRESS? Where’s the lllooovve?
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I think Jennifer is great and I love her style. Nice article by the way!