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We should celebrate Gabourey Sidibe's performance, not her size.
The subject of weight has always been a hot-button issue and on everyone’s opinionated lips. It’s inescapable. One person’s Lusciously Large Lady is another’s Disgusting Fat Pig. For years we’ve been bombarded with distorted depictions and unrealistic images fueling the debate about how our bodies should look. And now the catalyst that has everyone arguing and taking sides is both the character and actress in the highly hyped movie, Precious: Based on the Novel Push By Sapphire.
If you’ve been living under a rock and aren’t familiar with Precious, directed by envelope-pushing producer/director Lee Daniels, here’s the Cliff Notes: Based on the controversial 1999 novel, Push, the movie lets us into the fantasy-filled life of Clareece “Precious” Jones, a morbidly obese black girl living a horrific life, abused by her mother and raped by her father. This oft-times excruciating portrayal of an extremely obese teen is clearly a challenging role; Daniels talked about having doubts that he’d find someone big enough to fill the part. Then along came Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe, a 300-plus-pound actress who apparently embodied the character and nailed the part.
But as Sidibe—and the media—are quick to point out, the harrowing, yet ultimately redemptive story does not reflect her own experience. According to interviews, including a recent New York magazine, Sidibe is a confident, well-adjusted 25-year-old with a positive body image and no shortage of self-esteem. Readers writing in were overwhelmingly positive … and invariably mentioned her size. One declared, “she’s so incredible and so comfortable in her own skin that she’s probably lined with mink.” GAG!
So putting aside the PC platitudes, the facts tell a different story. Yes, Sidibe is a promising performer, one who’s already generating Oscar buzz. So if we just stick to her acting, kudos. But if we’re talking about her size—which has become part of the conversation—are people delusional? A five-foot-something woman tipping the scales at over 300 pounds is not something to celebrate. That’s SUPER fat, and no matter how passionately you argue the opposite, medical science will pull the plug on that position: Your health will suffer from carrying such an extreme amount of weight. Obesity can lead to a host of dangerous health issues including high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory problems and sleep apnea—and that’s just the short list. When you’re extremely overweight, even walking becomes a struggle.
And what about the psychological issues? As well adjusted as Sidibe purports to be, there’s got to be an emotional disconnect between the mind and body. Finding comfort eating one’s way to morbid obesity is not healthy, nor is it self-affirming.
Given all that, why do some people celebrate clinical obesity? Have we become so fearful of giving offense that we’re unwilling to say that it’s not OK to be obese? What do we make of larger-sized celebrities who proudly flaunt their status as a BBW (big beautiful women)—only to become the next Jenny Craig spokesperson? I remember Star Jones railing against “skinny bitches,” emphatically declaring that she would “die fat and happy.” Until, that is, she lost a tremendous amount of weight (and I don’t mean divorcing Al Reynolds) by undergoing gastric bypass surgery.
But it’s not only about obesity. The crazy weight pendulum swings to the other side, normalizing anorexia. The biggest culprit is the fashion industry where models are notoriously thin; designers seem to favor stick figures with protruding clavicles. For most regular women, that physique is impossible to achieve. But lately, even skinny models are ordered to slim down. Recently, Ralph Lauren had to offer a mea culpa for Photoshopping a picture of Fillipa Hamilton, a 5-foot-10-inch, 120 lb model so that her hips were smaller than her head. This after he’d fired her. According to Hamilton, the designer said she was too fat to fit the clothes; his people denied the accusation.
The weight thing isn’t the sole purview of fashion and entertainment folks. It’s permeated in politics, too. The hotly contested New Jersey governor’s race took a nasty turn when rotund challenger Chris Christie accused incumbent Jon Corzine of playing the weight card. Among the numerous negative ads, one showed Christie lumbering to get out of his SUV in slow motion, highlighting every jiggle and roll. The insanity extends even further … to the toy industry. Yes, the toy industry. Shoe czar Christian Louboutin is designing a line of shoes for the already ridiculously proportioned Barbie. His issue with her? She’s got cankles
. He feels her stout calves don’t properly display his exquisite footwear, so he’s demanding a slimmed-down doll. (Though I’m sure that he won’t be marching down to Harpo Studios to snatch his signature stilettos off Oprah’s feet.)
So how do we reconcile the bizarre extremes; the pressure to be painfully thin and the backlash that glorifies obesity? Is there a middle ground? Hopefully and tentatively, yes. Real women can, and do, have curves; people do come in all different shapes and sizes. So the message is to be the healthiest you. That means not hauling around a mountain of excess of weight that limits activities and invites health problems. Nor does it mean starving yourself or over-exercising to the brink of cardiovascular failure. It’s about being comfortable in your own skin and loving yourself, but always striving to be better. If you’re overweight, say yes to dropping some pounds, but do so with an emphasis on obtaining better health. A recent salvo into sanity was the August spread in Glamour that featured nude photos of a Lizzie Miller, a gorgeous 180-pound woman. Another good example is Dove's real beauty campaign: It’s a genuine commitment by the company to promote positive image and self-esteem in women and girls. Hopefully the idea and images will gain traction and lead to some real and lasting changes in how we view ourselves and the body type that we idealize.
So to Sidibe, I say: Congratulations on Precious. And my hope is that you get a handle on your health so that you can take full advantage of this tremendous opportunity—and be around to enjoy your success for many, healthy years to come.
Alicia Villarosa is a regular contributor to The Root.
Comments
I don't know where you're from but as I see it obesity has never been glorified. I think Gabby is a sweet young lady and very talented but of course she is not healthy at the weight is at right now. But as most people who never had to struggle with their weight, it's ridiculous to think you can't just wake up the next day and be skinny. The fact that she accepts herself for who she is inside and out isn't a bad thing because her self-esteem is what's going to help her become healthier. I'm so sick of people saying that they had no self-worth until they became a size 2 because there are plenty of thin people who are not comfortable with themselves mentally, emotionally and physically. You may appear perfect on the outside but have just as many difficulties in your life as someone twice your size. All extremes are unhealthy, being too heavy or too thin. There needs to be a healthy balance, a reasonble and sensible size or weight, not ideal because that's when people especially women develop problems with trying to achieve the impossible standard of beauty. As I said before I don't think anyone is glorifying Gabby's size as in her dress size, they seem to be celebrating her tremendous amount of talent and that is something we should all glorify.
Villarosa wrote, "And what about the psychological issues? As well adjusted as Sidibe purports to be, there’s got to be an emotional disconnect between the mind and body."
I see what you're trying to say but no, there doesn't HAVE TO BE an emotional disconnect. Poor dietary choices can be just that and not tied to mental or emotional problems. Unless you have some health or psych expertise, you should shy away from making comments about things that are outside your area of training.
That aside, you could discuss what we DO know. There IS a connect between what Sidibe purports and what we can observe. She presents herself as an articulate and well-adjusted young lady and comfortable with who she is. Are you suggesting that she shouldn't because of how she looks? Are you asking, 'how dare she be comfortable with herself because she's not thin?" Yes, obesity is a problem. No intelligent person would argue that it isn't. However, making assumptions and passing judgment on Sidibe's mental state, when you don't know her or have spoken to her is inappropriate and a cheap shot.
I find Ms. Villarosa's speculation about Ms. Sidibe's mental health disturbing. Yes, obesity is a huge problem, but it's also problematic to assume that everyone who carries extra weight must have some emotional problem. And although the author opines, "Finding comfort eating one’s way to morbid obesity is not healthy, nor is it self-affirming," she provides absolutely no evidence--no quote, no link--that Ms. Sidibe's figure is the result of "comfort" or "emotional" eating.
Tonight at 7:30 p.m. EST the PBS show "Basic Black" will be discussing the image of black women in the media, in light of the release of "Precious" and the upcoming release of "The Princess and the Frog." The panelists will also discuss the skyrocketing unemployment rates among African Americans. You can watch the LIVE discussion at basicblack dot org, and contribute your thoughts and questions via the live chat function.
I strongly dislike the tone and negativity of this article! Ok we can see she is large...but why do you have to use her as the example.Geez can't you just talk about obesity in general? No need to bring her up in such a mean spirited way.
Don't stress to much over this, she will make enough money off this film to have her stomach tied off or cut off like the rest of them soon enough. Right now she is putting up the strong "I'm comfortable in my skin" front.... what do you expect her to say in public? I hate being morbidly obese, not only because of the limitations on my life and health but also because of the way society slams me from every angle? Some nights I go home and cry myself to sleep? I deny myself fun activities like swimming, beach volleyball, sking etc. because people will talk and stare at me? Come on, get real... rarely do actresses admit that sort of thing until AFTER they have their bellies tied off. So give her a break.
This is what I look for a long time information, are very grateful.
I am appalled by the toxic tone of this blatant hatchet job. It reeks of internalized sexism and misogyny. It is no surprise that a yellow skinned, anorexic looking, and elder black female would attack a young ingénue who is both black skinned and fat.
All beauty is internal. Beautiful, fat, and dark skinned women like Sidibe are revered in many cultures by many men and women. Clearly, American culture is not one of those. This horrid article masterfully illustrates that American society is obsessed with hatred for dark women who are not anorexic.
The toxic language that deliberately litters this column is proof of a vulgar effort to trash and offend Sidibe and her fans. It is also glaring proof of a transparent effort to deflate the new stardom and degrade the dated and healthy self-esteem that are both so uniquely refreshing about this awesome actress.
I am in awe of Sidibe’s innate talent as a novice actress in an exceptionally difficult, depressing, unprecedented, and unglamorous role. I deeply admire her black fat beauty as blacks onscreen in America are exclusively and increasingly yellow/biracial and anorexic. Sidibe channels her Hollywood foremother Hattie McDaniel with a new flair and a superstar swag that is humble and haunting.
Tragically transparent and catty critics like Villarosa, who falsely claim to be sincerely concerned about obesity, blatantly ignore far more toxic ills in actresses who are thin. Most Americans are obese outside of Hollywood. Has Villarosa ever attacked another fat man or woman as she has this new starlet?
Silence is golden and revealing. Why is Villarosa being silent about the blatant colorism in this same film? Has Villarosa ever similarly attacked or voiced equivalent “concern” for the health of obese actors like Forest Whitaker, Biggie Smalls? Is Villarosa equally perturbed by pale obese actresses Kirstie Alley or Marianne Sägebrecht? If Monique was a few shades darker skinned 40 pounds heavier would this “column” have been a dual attack on both gifted voluptuous sister thespians? Has Villarosa seen Sidibe’s
A responsible editor would have informed Villarosa that it was quite possible to pen a piggish indictment against obesity without simultaneously slaughtering Sidibe. This unnecessary assault reminded me of a quote in Toni Morrison’s classic novel “The Bluest Eye”. It is a timeless treasure about the ruthlessness of Eurocentric self-hatred and how ugly people like Villarosa need to deem others uglier so that they may experience fleeting moments of false beauty:
“It was their contempt for their own blackness that gave the first insult its teeth. They seemed to have taken all of their smoothly cultivated ignorance, their exquisitely learned self-hatred, their elaborately designed hopelessness and sucked it all up into a fiery cone of scorn that had burned for ages in the hollows of their minds--cooled--and spilled over lips of outrage, consuming whatever was in its path."
This is not a column about Sidibe. It is Villarosa’s own curiously ruthless “fiery cone of scorn” masked as a concern for a valid health crisis. Villarosa has only revealed that she is the one who is unhealthy and ugly indeed.
It seems to me that true self-confidence is not easily afforded to anyone within the American society - doesn't matter the color, size, shape, gender, etc. I applaud and covet Gabby's self-esteem. As many members have already pointed out, surreal external pressures of the industry (and society, in general) will, if they haven't already, remind Gabby of the “ideal appearance.” And because this constant reminder will be camouflaged as “health awareness,” I’m sure Gabby is (or will be in the near future) well aware of food decisions and related consequences. She’s beautiful. She’s happy. Let her be. Only if she feels she needs to change will said change take place. The (unintentional?) negativity of this article will add no value to her or anyone else.
, , , yes the topic of obesity needs to be addressed within the Black/Multi-mixed African-American community. However, do you think that your article was/is a great opener for such? I have been a long time reader of your various written works and this is a cheap shot at best and unworthy of the time I spent reading it.
As for those of you who fat bashed both the character Precious and the actress who played her, your hate-er'raid is showing. STOP IT!!! JUST STOP IT AND CELEBRATE SOMEONE OTHER THAN YOUR OWNSELF!!!