Yesterday, Jillian Michaels, of ‘The Biggest Loser’ fame, decided it was her business to comment on singer Lizzo’s weight.
Michaels questioned why we are “celebrating [Lizzo’s] body” and brought up diabetes as justification for her commentary. In a surprise to no one, her comments did not go over well.
The interview with Michaels was posted to Twitter, and the replies were overwhelmingly in support of the singer, slamming Michaels’ comments as fat-phobic.
Some pointed out that more people die of anorexia than any other mental illness. Others noted that Lizzo in fact exercises a great deal, as anyone who has seen her perform can attest, and thinness is not the end-all-be-all of human health and wellness.
These comments from Michaels are not exactly surprising. She built her entire career on a foundation of thinness as the unwavering standard to be strived for. Michaels’ biggest claim to fame, ‘The Biggest Loser’ is a show built upon publicly shaming fat people and celebrating them only when they show dramatic weight loss.
Lizzo is nominated for 8 Grammys and performing at the ceremony, so despite what Jillian Michaels says, she seems to be doing perfectly fine.
It’s 2020. It time to stop commenting on other people’s bodies.
