Son Of A…
*Yeah, this one’s about Rosie O’Donnell, too, so if you’re not interested, I do understand. I will be blogging about fat things more next week, promise.
Watching last night’s episode of the Rosie Show, with Lisa Kudrow as her guest, pissed me right the hell off. At the beginning of the show she brings on this wisp of a man model and insists he’s “not the bad kind of skinny.” Then coming back from a commercial break she makes a big friggin’ deal about some weight loss bullshit and now I’m just mad and annoyed. I am beginning to think that Rosie will get up and cheer for just about any old thing…I don’t know why this surprises me so.
“We are kicking off a brand spanking new weight loss program today called “______ ____ ___”. Listen to this, so the people of “______ ____ ___” have signed on a smokin’ hot celebrity who lost a lot of weight on this plan but I can’t tell you who it is, I’ve been sworn to secrecy. —-You’ll get the exclusive on November 8th. —We’ve enlisted 25 women to start the program, they’re right here in ____ shirts. They got free “______ ____ ___” meals today and for the next 28 days. Plus, one on one help from a “slimoglogist” –which I didn’t even know they had that–We’ve got all of these women coming back and on November 7th They’re going to walk through and they’re going to be…thinner. And then the celebrity is gonna walk through and they’re all gonna hug.—“
And then she goes right back to another commercial break and I’m like what the fucking hell?! She starts off with “not the bad kind of skinny” and ends with a new weight loss plan…mind you she did not refer to herself in any way shape or form when talking about this program/plan/bullshit. And then I jump online to write this post and a commenter mentions how Rosie has always been everyone’s cheerleader. That she will be SO EXCITED for basically whomever is in front of her or people like or in some way could help her show. UGH!
Well, if she is going to be SO EXCITED for everyone ever, then I suppose it’s not such a bad thing. She is human after all. Certainly there are corporate sponsors to worry about. Oprah’s approval, too, no doubt. I just felt like this was going to be the real Rosie show, ya know?
C’mon Rosie! You’re better than this! This is YOUR show now, right? I mean, I love what you said about being proud and standing up for yourself and not wearing spanx that first night…and now this? I’m glad you’re not shilling for some weight loss garbage. At least not directly, your show is, as a host you are, but you’re not on the diet so whatever. I just want you to know that this back and forth on the body hate stuff…it’s damaging to all of us. Remember the “It Gets Better” anti-bullying campaign? Well, you know then how kids can be affected by a stigma. A stigma so deeply rooted in our society that their lives are threatened. That they are denied health care! Based on a damned stigma!!! Not fact! That they are harassed and encouraged to do so by almost the entire fucking world!!!
So think about it, and maybe consider ending the body judging comments all together. You can love yourself, too…just as you are, right now! Celebrity or no, you can let go of the societal pressure and bullshit body hate that only one industry truly benefits from: the 64 billion dollar diet industry! The rest of us lay in ruins in its wake of cash and empty protein shake bottles. Our self esteem still smoking from the last “diet” we all tried. Those fake statistics we all bought as fact…it’s all bullshit and deep down you have to know it is. You have to know it isn’t right. There is a better way. Self acceptance, self love, ending the self hate, ending the judging all together…that is the way, man. I can tell you that for sure! Nothing bad has ever come from loving and accepting yourself. And what a fabulously positive message to give to your audience and the world?! You are a brave and proud woman, I know you can do this!
Thanks for reading. <3
yea im really disappointed in this…espcailly because rosice is usally very sure of her OWN body. SHe made a fat barbie for Chrissakes. Oh well..one less fattie to look up too. i guess rosanene barr and cathy bates will have to do .
Erylin: I’m not giving up on her just yet…but you’re right in the sense that there are so few self-accepting fatties in the celebrity world. Don’t forget Cameryn Manheim. Though Roseanne still holds onto the “skinny bitch” mentality. Nobody is perfect.
This pretty much leads me to believe that Rosie is a lost cause & also that she will sell out to anyone, just like almost everyone else in the public eye. I do not count on celebrities to be my fat heroes.
Patsy: You’re a smart lady. I can’t say that I count on celebrities for much of anything except acting or whatever their job is, but I do get hopeful from time to time. Never leads me anywhere, but oh well.
If only Rosie could pay attention to what you’ve said! However, as you point out, the show is on Oprah’s network and we all know how screwed up is Ms. Winfrey’s attitude toward size. Actually, it’s amazing that she’s even hired a Rosie-sized presenter on OWN. Also (and you pointed this up, too) there is corporate sponsorship; this is, after all, COMMERCIAL television, and what sells to women in EVERY demographic? DIET BULLSHIT! Yes, it’s part of the endless, vicious cycle of diet/hate/date/hate myself some more, but boy, does it ever show a profit.
Maybe if we all made a visible, audible point of BOYCOTTING tv shows sponsored by diet products, someone might notice. And why would we be doing this? To promote HEALTH, as in, all that Jenny Craig, etc. “food” is mostly chemicals & we know that chemicals aren’t healthful for you. Let’s think about this…
Carol: I will say that Rosie did not seem particularly or extra enthused about the diet thing they were promoting. It almost seemed like she was just giving a shout out to the ladies who were on the diet thing…but then she went into some secret celebrity schpeal…I don’t know what to think. I think boycotting the advertisers and letting them know why is key. Boycotting a tv show doesn’t get you anywhere, sadly. Thank you so much for your thoughts.
Ugh. This is disappointing to read. “He’s not the bad kind of skinny”?? What the hell is that? As if there’s “good” and “bad” ways to be skinny or fat. Rosie, Rosie, Rosie. *head shake*
thirtiesgirl: My thoughts exactly. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here, as usual…you rock.