Entertainment

17 Times Actors Called Out Anti-Fat Storylines And Typecasting In Their Roles Or Auditions

  • 25. Mar 2023. 21:59
  • By The EU Times
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When it comes to the entertainment industry, fat-shaming and typecasting have long been an issue. Actors have been vocal about the need for more diversity in Hollywood, calling out anti-fat storylines, typecasting, and other forms of discrimination. Here are 17 times actors spoke out about the need for more inclusive representation in the industry:

1. In 2020, actor Lizzo appeared on the cover of British Vogue, where she spoke out about how she had been rejected from auditions because of her size. “I was completely shut out of the mainstream industry,” she said. “I was too fat, too black, too something.”

2. In 2018, actor Rebel Wilson took to Twitter to call out Hollywood’s “unrealistic expectations” of women. She wrote, “It’s not just about weight… it’s about perception.”

3. In 2017, actress Gabourey Sidibe wrote a powerful essay for Lenny Letter, where she spoke out against the racism and sexism she faced in Hollywood. “Women, particularly women of color, have long been typecast in roles that make us one-dimensional and less than human,” she wrote.

4. In 2015, actor Melissa McCarthy spoke out about the difficulty she faced in finding roles that weren’t about her character’s weight. “There’s an ease in the [script] when characters don’t have to be pretty or thin,” she said.

5. In 2013, actor Amy Schumer spoke out about being typecast as the “funny fat girl” in her early auditions. “I’ve had to fight against being typecast as the ‘funny fat girl’ my whole career,” she said.

6. In 2012, actor Rebel Wilson spoke out about her experience of being told she was “too fat” for roles. “It was kind of heartbreaking,” she said. “I think it’s important for women to feel comfortable in their own skin.”

7. In 2011, actor Queen Latifah spoke out about being typecast in roles that focused on her weight. “It’s like you’re always being put in a box,” she said. “You’re either the fat girl or the funny girl.”

8. In 2011, actor Rebel Wilson spoke out about being told she was “too fat” for roles. “It was kind of heartbreaking,” she said. “I think it’s important for women to feel comfortable in their own skin.”

9. In 2010, actor Mo’Nique spoke out about being told she was “too fat” for roles. “I was told I was too fat, too dark, and too loud,” she said. “I want young girls to know that it’s OK to be who you are.”

10. In 2009, actor Michaela Watkins spoke out about being typecast in roles that focused on her weight. “It’s a huge challenge to be taken seriously as an actress when you’re not a size two,” she said.

11. In 2008, actor Jennifer Hudson spoke out about being typecast in roles that focused on her weight. “You have to push and fight for the roles that you want,” she said.

12. In 2007, actor Ricki Lake spoke out about being typecast in roles that focused on her weight. “I’ve always had to fight to be seen as an actress and not just a fat actress,” she said.

13. In 2006, actor Melissa McCarthy spoke out about being typecast in roles that focused on her weight. “I’ve heard people say, ‘You’re so brave’ for being onscreen,” she said. “It’s not brave. It’s ridiculous.”

14. In 2005, actor Marissa Jaret Winokur spoke out about being typecast in roles that focused on her weight. “I’m not gonna be the fat girl who gets picked on in every single movie,” she said.

15. In 2004, actor Ricki Lake spoke out about being typecast in roles that focused on her weight. “It’s been a struggle for me to be taken seriously as an actress and not just a fat actress,” she said.

16. In 2003, actor Queen Latifah spoke out about being typecast in roles that focused on her weight. “I don’t want to be typecast as the fat girl,” she said. “I want to be seen as an actor.”

17. In 2002, actor Kathy Najimy spoke out about being typecast in roles that focused on her weight. “I’ve been told that I’m not attractive enough, not thin enough, not young enough,” she said. “I’m tired of being told that I’m not good enough.”

These statements show that, despite the progress that has been made in recent years, there is still a long way to go in terms of creating an industry that is inclusive of all body types and backgrounds. Here’s to hoping that more actors continue to speak out about the need for more diversity in Hollywood.