I'm really happy that Kevin Smith caused a stink about getting thrown off a Southwest flight. Their seats are ridiculously cramped (even for people who aren't "morbidly obese") and the absolute rudeness of that fat-phobic flight attendant who kicked him off deserved to be called the hell out. Smith is on a rampage, dedicating countless tweets and smodcasts to raging against Southwest, but like most of us, he's still part of a bigger (hyuck hyuck) problem.
Every time he says that he's trying to lose weight, it's a win for them. Every time he says he's not "that big," it's a win for them. Kevin, own the fact that you're a big fat fatty: there is nothing wrong with that. You have a crazy-successful career, you're obviously brilliant, you have a beautiful wife and child, and yet, you're still apologizing for your fat. You need to own the fattness, bro. A way to do this? Be honest about the Southwest situation. Maybe the seat IS uncomfortable for you, and maybe that's not your fault. Maybe in an attempt to cram more people into smaller seats, the once exciting, glamorous experience of flying is now a nightmare. Don't say that you need to lose weight and that you're not that big. Say, "Hey, this sucks and has got to change."
Another thing Smith can do? Cast some freaking fatties in his movies -- and not just dudes. Cast some hot fat chicks as leading ladies. I'm not talking Shallow Hal-style either (shudder), I'm talking genuinely sexy, smart, cute, fat actresses. They exist, it's just harder to find them because many (especially the younger ones) aren't working or are a tragic case of the "after photo." That will change if they start to get roles. Smith throws some rotund love towards chubbers like Seth Rogan, but his female leads are always stick-thin, classic Hollywood hotties. It's kinda like the "SNL: No fat chicks!" policy. Sure, bring on Chris Farley (RIP) and Horatio Sanz, but a fat woman? NO WAY! And let's face it; fat people are funnier than skinny people. It's just a fact. How much more awesome would Zach and Miri Make a Porno be if the female lead had been a chubosaurus? MUCH MORE AWESOME.
Smith definitely still buys into the ideal that thin is better, and it's reflected in his reaction to being kicked off the plane and in his casting choices. Smith, it's time. Join the fat army. Stop apologizing for your fatness; revel in it. I don't mean go out and eat Cheetos until you go into cardiac arrest; eating healthy, whole foods and exercising is important for people of every size. I mean embracing the size that you're genetically predisposed to and working it. Prejudice against fat people is one of the last socially acceptable forms of prejudice and it's not okay. My plea to Smith is this: go to bat for the fat team. With your intelligence, fan base, and loud-ass voice, you can help make progress toward fat acceptance.
Follow Laura Beck on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mrpenguino
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The Kevin Smith/SWA incident was an excellent opportunit
I don't expect Kevin Smith to accept himself. It's his journey to take. I just think that we should appreciate the attention he has brought to the issues and, maybe if you meet the man, you can make a plea for self-accep
Peace,
Shannon
Atchka.com
FierceFatt
This incident raised his awareness of the mistreatme
I think that, like most Americans, he doesn't give issues of fat discrimina
I don't think that makes him a jerk, I think it makes him an American. As Americans, we pick and choose our battles, we decide which causes we're going to go apeshit over. I think Fat Acceptance people saw Kevin Smith as a potential ally in the fight against fat discrimina
And I can't blame him.
(continued
But since you brought it up, Smith has often said he's had difficulty casting the female leads he wants (Dogma and Clerks 2 come to mind for sure). It's not like it's his call and his call alone.
Their seats are uncomforta
What do you suggest I do? Should I pay for two seats? Should I charter a private plane?
Oh... also... it seems that you haven't done much research into the Smith story... past watching a segment on TMZ. He has posted plenty, while SWA has posted almost nothing... and within that almost nothing are edited/cen
Double-plu
Slow news week for you?
BTW: Do you work for FOX News? Your "reporting
now, my turn.
did you read my post, past the subject line? smith has said repeatedly that he's not "that fat" and that he's trying to lose weight. those are the two things i address in my post, i never said anything about him not giving Southwest hell. also, I said that the seats are uncomforta
"smith has said repeatedly that he's not "that fat" and that he's trying to lose weight." Putting "quote marks" around a couple "random words" does not make "a quote." Where did he say this? When? Why? Could you provide some context?
I know that over the many years I've been a Smith fan he has been on many different diets for different reasons. Are you trying to insist that you know the reason he is dieting, and it's because of social pressures? Can you prove this? Have you considered that he is trying to lose weight for reasons that he did not discuss with you? For his health, for aesthetics
"also, I said that the seats are uncomforta
You call the man a "fatty" and then wonder why people with weight issues have weight issues. Incredible
Here is what you can do for me and the other readers who are posting comments like this: Next time you want to make a post about fat pride or whatever your still totally mysterious point is, don't lasso in some in-the-new
That Kevin Smith is some sort of in-denial self loathing fat celeb, lying to himself and to us, is just absurd. Honesty is the man's brand. He has fans like myself because he does not pull punches and wears his entire insides on his sleeve.
Oh, and explain how getting mad that you've been called to fat to fly is the same as saying thin is better? What Kevin has said over and over and over is that he understand
http://smo
There's the link, listen to it. Listen to it, then tell me he doesn't own up to being fat.
I'm a huge fan of Kevin Smith's and have listened to all 100+ episodes of his smodcast. This article could not be less accurate of a representa
Honestly Ms. Beck you have a point. While very, very few people have any excuse to be fat, those who don't want to lose weight should accept their fatness. There are worse character flaws. On the other hand fat people who do try to lose weight but can't...tr