In the last post, we discussed the use of the word “whopping” in celebrity tabloid magazines as it pertains to celebrities gaining weight. After reading about Kirstie Alley’s recent weight gain, I noticed quite a few more. Do you ever pay attention to the redundant phrasing these people use? Here are a few examples:
“going from flab to fab”
“packing the pounds back “
“drop the weight “
Besides the endless clichés I’ve noticed in these type of articles, I think what bothers me the most about the entire Kirstie Alley weight gain saga, is the fact that she feels that she somehow “let everyone down”. Like her weight gain is somehow a justifiably public issue that should be thrown about the tabloids like she is the latest Swine Flu victim.
As many of you remember, we were quite annoyed back in January when Oprah made her big confession regarding her weight gain. Although Oprah made a big public spectacle about the changes in her body, she at least made her weight gain personal and didn’t take on some large social responsibility.
For Kirstie Alley to somehow feel that just because she was Jenny Craig’s spokeswoman for the three years, means that she should feel responsible for being some kind of large disappointment to millions of women everywhere is ludicrous. After all, weight should not be a public issue!
DAMN RIGHT! My fat not your fat. My fat is my friend. I like it.
I agree I don’t like it when people stick their noses in how your body looks. Like it is a public issue that offends them. Last I checked my body is my body and it isn’t for other people to poke at!!
Kirstie looks like she wears my size. Actually, she looks like she wears a 22/24. This is what people are flipping out over? Girlfriend just needs to meet her inner fatshionista, and possibly get a better fitting bra. And maybe a bold “eff you” pixie cut with some brassy highlights. Seriously, life doesn’t end at this size.
Ooh, I thought of another dieting cliche, “Got my/her body back!” From whom, the aliens?
The sad part is, the television makes her look about a 22/24, but she probably only wears a 14 and is completely bent out of shape about it. TV is not your friend in this area, but my point here is that, she’s not even as big as what we see and she’s still creating drama around it.
You’re right; weight is not a public issue.
I did feel sorry for the Miss USA contestant that was really really skinny. Her picture was all over the internet and the news. GMA even had nutritionist stating on television that she was malnourished. This model came to GMA to speak with Diane Soyer, confronting the controversy of her weight. She defended herself by saying she was naturally thin and she was not malnourished.
I believe that there are people who are naturally slight, regardless of how much they eat or workout. Although, I am glad that the public noticed that this model was looking too thin, however, I do not agree how they criticized her. She made out to be a bad role model to young women.
I personally think Kirstie Alley is being a tad bit over-the-top about this entire thing. Granted, she is a comedienne, but I feel like this whole thing is overkill. And all of the energy she’s giving it is drawing more attention to her weight gain, and makes her seem even more uncomfortable with herself than she probably is.
Look, we all go through phases. This is just a phase. She probably needs to get back to her old day job of “acting” and she’ll find less time to think about her weight. Believe me, I completely sympathize with her, but nobody really cares. I don’t think people around the world were really looking to her as a serious role model when it came to losing weight. She acts like everything is a big joke, how can you take her seriously. Some women are really struggling with weight issues and she tries to make EVERYTHING a joke which, for me, is really annoying.
I actually appreciated Oprah coming out about her weight. It helped me to see a different side of her. That perspective of what it must feel like having people always in your face all of the time. Now Oprah…that is someone people can consider a role model for almost anything. Not Kirstie.
I don’t know that Oprah is a role model for everyone. She also seems to jump on the diet of the minute bandwagon constantly. I think she’s better than most of what’s on tv, but those are low standards. As for Kirstie, I feel for her. It’s tough to get past the mainstream view of what we all should look like, especially if your income/lifestyle has always been about your looks.
I’m uncomfortable with either Kirstie OR Oprah endorsing the idea that weight-gain is somehow shameful…
And Oprah has more money than god…you’d think that might empower her somewhat to give a big “eff you” to anyone who wants to diss her for her weight. She has made so many valuable contributions to the world…it is sad to me that she focuses on her displeasure with her own body, (which seems to be serving her quite well!) instead of feeling and spreading the good vibes from all her philanthropy and social and political work…hmm…Don’t be so hard on yourself, Big O! Stop and smell the cheeseburgers!
i feel terribly sad for kirstie alley. she’s been criticized for her weight so often, even when she wasn’t overweight, that it’s all apparently sunk in.
in the People article, she sounded so self-critical. i wanted to wrap my arms around her and give her some comfort.
it’s all so messed up.