Can you believe it? Something said on the Howard Stern Show created a controversy.
We were talking about how Precious star Gabourey Sidibe's weight will negatively affect her health and career. I guess by stating the obvious we hit a nerve because the mainstream media went wild calling us mean. The reaction of the African American community has been even more confounding, calling Howard racist and me a sellout and a House Negro. What no one wanted to confront was the validity of our argument.
To say there won't be a lot of leading roles in the future for Gabourey is hardly some kind of giant, racist leap. Precious is not your average film. The filmmakers had to go out and find an actress who looked the part. Most working actors start out thin and contort themselves to fit a role. Robert De Niro won acclaim for gaining weight to play Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull, but quickly slimmed down again so he could continue to qualify for the many different parts he would be offered. The same can be said for actresses Rene Zellwegger and Charlize Theron.
But what about when an actor is already overweight? When was the last time you saw Kirstie Alley in a movie? Once a leading lady, she is now hounded by paparazzi trying to catch her shoving something into her mouth and doing show after show about her efforts to slim down so she can work again. Oh, but, our critics point out, look at Kathy Bates and Queen Latifah. Let's be real: both these women have gained and lost weight over the years. They continue to struggle to lose weight because they know it's important to their careers, and while neither of them will ever be Zoe Saldano, they are not Gabourey Sidibe either.
I wonder why nobody except me and Howard Stern are willing to say that Gabourey needs help. She is not just overweight, she is dangerously obese. I understand that she was discovered this way, but after the film someone should have said, "Hey Gabby, it would be great if you slimmed down so that you can capitalize on the opportunities that will be coming your way."
When you're in the public eye, like it or not, you become a role model. Precious is the kind of film that speaks to people. I, for one, am afraid of what is being said to African American girls about the movie's star by the media. Is it really okay for Gabourey to be looking forward to another fast food orgy at the Chick fil-A? Does she really look great on the red carpet? Is she really a part of Hollywood, or just its latest victim?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 50% of black women are obese. Obesity is a risk factor for every major disease including heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Two of Gabourey's co-stars in Precious have openly talked about struggling to control their weight now that they have been diagnosed as diabetic--and neither was ever the size of Gabourey.
We can't be for Gabourey continuing to eat out of control and for the First Lady's campaign to stamp out childhood obesity at the same time. We have to start being honest about how deadly this health crisis is, particularly in the black community. We have to be able to say that Gabourey is fat.
I know the deal; I've been there. I was clinically obese. I never thought it was cool, nor did I want anyone encouraging me to eat more. I was devastated by the way I felt and the way I looked. I feared that because no one commented on my condition people thought I wanted to look that way. Everyone says Gabourey has a good attitude. Well, what is she suppose to do? When I was going through it I didn't say anything either. I even stopped talking about dieting because I was tired of failing publicly.
I never gave up though, and I eventually found my way back to sanity around food. As a result of all I've learned, I believe we need a Food Bill of Rights in the Constitution to help us make informed choices about what we eat and how our food got to our plates. This is a right as much as clean, drinkable water. I'm going to let you know how my food bill progresses and I want your input. We're all in this health crisis together and it will take all of us to get out. The first step in solving any problem is being able to identify it. Let's start telling each other the truth about weight. It's killing us.
Follow Robin Quivers on Twitter: www.twitter.com/rqui
And did anyone catch he SNL guest performances? They were POOR. This is her job and she baffled it on LIVE tv.
This girl needs to lose weight, for her sake, for young girls that look up to her and her fans, because if she gets a heart attack sometime I hope the fans would feel good about themselves supporting her 'lifestyle'.
Being overweight could be categorized with drugs, let's check- both addictive, bad for long term health, both causes major heart attacks, and the list goes on. All the junk she eats is like 'legal drugs'. She really needs to hit a diet.
And before any judgmental people say anything, I am a proud half black man, with black relatives, and lived in predominantly black neighborhoods, and love my people, i just speak the truth everyone tries to be blind about.
Stern and Quivers were commenting on the fact that and Obese person is less likely to have a long lasting Hollywood Movie career then one that is not obese.
Plain and simple
Queen Latifah, etc. But there is no question how unhealthy it is. But did Stern and Quivers voice concern over her health when they did this bit??
Quivers also should try to excuse herself and Stern about how the actress will end up killing herself.
This is nothing new to them. Saying something outrageous to get publicity. Everybody knows this by now. What Quivers is doing is saying they were trying to help her out.
What a load of junk.
An obese man or woman is less likely to have a major long lasting Hollywood movie career than one that is not obese. What is it about this simple fact you seem to miss.
They pointed this out on day one then the media took hold of it and it turned into Gabourey's health and the health of all obese persons, men and women.
I listen to them every day and have for years. I get the jokes that you seem to take exception to.
Try to have a sense of humor and lighten up. You can always change the channel or not read the article.
Thank you! ;c)
Your comments on her career are dead wrong. Her role on "The Big C" was recently expanded because of the popularity of her character. She is also the lead in a film called "Yelling to the Sky." Only time will tell if her career will be stunted by her size.
As far as leading actors who are fat... there are plenty of movies with fat men or traditionally unattractive men. Why the double standard? Why is a fat woman in Hollywood so worthy of scorn and contempt? It speaks more to your own feelings about fat than about Gabby's ability or career.
Finally, you have no idea what Gabby eats. So she wanted to go to Chick-Fil-A. Wow, what a crime against humanity... I don't see hear pundits obsessing over all the Hollywood celebs in fast food drive-throughs, yet TMZ has pictures of them constantly. You have no idea what her lifestyle habits are and, quite frankly, they are none of your business.
(continued)
Thanks for stating the obvious.
Yeah, time will tell is obvious, but the fact that she is a working actress is not, based on Quivers' comments.
Peace,
Shannon
Peace,
Shannon
Atchka.com
FierceFatties.com
Like I said, I'm a listener and often find the show entertaining, but I turn it off when you both get on your high horse about how you think a person is suppose to look.
I also predict she will develop her skills as a character actress, and she will find roles that play to her strengths.
The future is not written and there is no guessing what roles will become available.
Hopefully she will be able to balance out quality/important roles with roles she must take to keep working (which are often self denigrating; i.e. Berry in Monster's Ball).
Acting is not a "fair" career choice, it's rarely even a meritocracy.
Hollywood is shallow even if you want to work BEHIND the camera.
BTW, what ever happened to the kids from "Slumdog Millionaire" now that they are no longer in the spotlight?