It starts off with a reference to a CNN story about the Mike & Molly on CBS that states some viewers have expressed discomfort watching intimacy between two plus-sized actors. Ms. Maura Kelly, a freelance writer for the magazine Marie Claire was asked to write a piece about that idea and Maura Kelly’s response has ignited controversy for Marie Claire. She writes:
‘So anyway, yes, I think I’d be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other … because I’d be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch a very, very fat person simply walk across a room — just like I’d find it distressing if I saw a very drunk person stumbling across a bar or a heroine addict slumping in a chair.’
At the time of publication of this article, Maura Kelly has received quite the backlash, with over 28,000 written responses to the magazine alone. People have also taken to comments and Twitter to express their dislike for Kelly and her “narrow view on happiness.”
However, Maura Kelly issued an apology for her extremely offensive comments, and she’s blaming the article on her past history with anorexia.
In a statement, she said that she deeply regrets upsetting people with her words and added, “A few commentors and one of my friends mentioned that my extreme reaction might have grown out of my own body issues, my history as an anorexic, and my life-long obsession with being thin. As I mentioned in the ongoing dialogue we’ve been carrying on in the comments section, I think that’s an accurate insight.”
It’s good that Maura Kelly issued an apology, yet the damage has been done already. She tears people apart for being overweight, then later she admits to having an unhealthy obsession with being skinny. But size-ists can never be the answer… and does not excuse the hate spewed in regards to someone’s appearance, of which is NONE of anyone’s business.
Tammy says:
When does the bigotry against people that are not perfect stop? You don’t think people with a weight problem know they are unhealthy looking? We do. We are having a problem and are trying. No one wants to feel bad. If someone does. I want to be thinner but not for Maura but for myself and my family. (She was very offensive and needs to do more than just issue a “My bad” I didn’t think you fatties read either.) People like her are the reason healthcare companies won’t help to pay for programs to help people lose weight. I wish mine would. I have a medical issue as well as other issues as to why I am over weight. I don’t say you are to skinny or you are average and boring and your fatter than I am. I am respectful to myself and others. Maura if you don’t have something nice to say don’t say it at all. Isn’t that what your mom taught you? Mine did. In short you were very RUDE!!! and OFFENSIVE!!!!