Nearly undoubtedly, most of you have heard of or even seen self-proclaimed YouTube comedian, Nicole Arbour’s newest video rant, “Dear Fat People”. Let me be the first to tell you, there are so many things wrong with this video, but I’m just going to list a few.
1. This is NOT Comedy.
This is not comedy. This is not satire. This is not funny. This is cruel and mean and entirely uncalled for. We tend to make a joke out of everything; gender, religion, sexuality, race, ethnicity, mental illnesses, and body type. We have become desensitized to others’ feelings entirely. We couldn’t care less about who we hurt and the repercussions our words have, as long as we rack up on views, likes, and shares. We have blatantly placed personal fame above the mental health of countless others. We are a selfish people.
2. Fat-Shaming IS a Thing
Despite Arbour’s claim that “ fat people made [fat shaming] up ,” there are countless studies on fat shaming and its consequences, from the vast increase in mental illnesses, to eating disorders, and even suicide. The very suggestion that fat shaming is a ploy for attention is a slap to the face of its victims. Saying that fat people made up fat shaming is like saying that racial minorities created racism, homosexuals constructed homophobia, women are only imagining the glass ceiling, and religious minorities aren’t actually discriminated against. We live in a world that is immensely agoraphobic. Anything different from our norms and ideals seems to be doomed to discrimination.
3. You Cannot Judge a Person’s Health Just by Looking at Them
Let’s be honest, our society has a judgment problem. We like to look at a person and assume that we know everything about them, and it’s time we recognize that just because someone is overweight, doesn’t mean that they spend their days at McDonald’s and have never set foot into a gym. It’s time that we realize that there are many diseases and disorders that inhibit the body’s ability to lose weight. It’s time we realize that someone’s health and particularly someone’s weight is not our business. The health of the girl you’re criticizing across the mall is between that girl and her health professional. Not you.
4. This is NOT “Concern”
You can try to claim that your “concern trolling” is an attempt to save lives, but I’m not buying it. Calling someone “Jabba the Son” is not concern. “...You’re too fat, you need to stop eating” is not concern. Making a video that blatantly and hatefully bashes a specific group of people is not (productive) concern. Concern is offering your help. Concern is asking if there’s anything you can do. Concern is caring. This is not concern.
5. Body Type Does NOT Define You
Your body type does not define your worth. It does not define your potential. It does not define your importance or your intelligence. It does not define you. You are more than the number on the scale or measuring tape or clothes tag. You are more than the hateful things people have to say about you. You are more than a YouTube video.
