NBC Says 'SNL' Fat Firing Is Bogus, But Our Readers Don't Buy It

By PopEater Staff Posted Sep 11th 2009 07:05AM

With speculation about whether 'Saturday Night Live' actress Casey Wilson was let go because of her weight at full bore this week, NBC has finally issued a statement denying any such claims. Still, public opinion says otherwise, as PopEater readers came out in droves to proclaim that 'SNL' has a weight double-standard when it comes to men and women. Poll results below, and NBC's statement after the jump >>>

Responding to a recent report that Wilson was fired because she was ordered to lose 30 pounds over the summer and didn't, NBC told The Wrap the following: "There's absolutely no truth at all to the rumors regarding Casey Wilson. Her contract was simply not renewed."

The uproar began thanks to an E! column by Ted Casablanca, who cited "inside comedy sources" who claimed that "producers told the curvy Casey to lose 30 pounds during the show's summer hiatus. They pretty much demanded it. And whether Wilson just couldn't drop the weight or she just only wanted to give her middle finger some exercise, she didn't drop a damn pound. And that's when she was axed, we're told."

In polls that we ran around our initial coverage of the story, PopEater readers sided with Casablanca's story. Sixty-three percent of our readers thought Wilson was fired because she was heavy. Perhaps even more telling, a whopping 89 percent of our readers said that 'SNL' has a weight double-standard, as heavy-set men like Chris Farley, John Belushi and Horatio Sanz were often given meaty roles based entirely on their girth while the female cast has remained on the very thin side.

Tags: casey wilson, CaseyWilson, saturday night live, SaturdayNightLive, snl

Comments

(186)

Friday 11 September

By Mike

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I wouldn't believe NBC if they told me water was wet. I will turn on NBC ONE TIME this year. Unfortunately the Dolphins have a game on that garbage propaganda network this year.

By Coleen

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So go ahead and crawl back in your hole with your sister and continue to let FOX news brainwash you into thinking they are fair and balanced and everyone else is evil. It is your call.

By Ted Fortenberry

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Hey Martie, I would love to see how you would handle Alaska as Governor, shameful reporting leveled against your character, etc...

Can't do it? I didn't think so.

Sunday 13 September

By Chad Pennington

Yo Mike, Do us a favor. Watch Fox that night. You're a jinx, you stupid bastid.

By Karen

The fact is SNL hasn't been "watchable" in so many years, indicative of the lack of talent on the show, that weight HAD to be the issue. I could make a list of so-called entertainers labeled as "funny" on the show that either bored me to tears or completely grossed me out. There's actually a couple of guys on there now that are not only NOT FUNNY, but butt-ugly to boot! Get rid of them and perhaps I'll start watching again!!

By Jonathan

I know one of the new girls, Nasim Pedrad, personally and she is both a talented performer and writer, and the first middle Easterner (in this case Iranian descent) to be on the show. So to SNL producers' credit, they obviously are trying to explore some new areas. Nasim's humor is well known to draw on her ethnicity, much like Carlos Mencia. So give her and the new season a try!!

By Dan

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

But ugly guys are funnier for being ugly. Ugly women are just not really good for anything.

By DTBronzich

I have not watched the program in many years, really, but this young actress is absolutely beautiful! I would hope that NBC shall come to it's senses.

By Ellen

You're right, Sarah Palin is better looking than Tina Fey. Proof positive that looks are meaningless. Shame on you. This article is supposed to be about a men vs women double standard, and you just agreed with them. Jan! You're a woman. Start acting like one.

By Jennifer

Tina Fey was actually much heavier when she was simply a writer for the show; they didn't make her a cast member until she lost about 30lbs.

What does Sarah Palin being prettier than Tina Fey have to do with this story?

By mike

That really isn't the point, Jan. Tina Fey made Sarah Palin look like the low IQ idiot that she is.

By CMo

Wrong. It made NBC look like the ultra leftist liberal network it is, with SNL being the liberals' bludgeon to wield over mindless lemmings. Haven't watched SNL in years and probably won't ever again. It's not funny anymore, just mean spirited, spiteful and politically motivated.

By Reena

Mike - I totally agree with you! funny how people don't realize that what Tina Fey was saying in those skits - Sarah Palin actually said! Sarah Palin is a complete idiot and Fey portrayed her perfectly!!

By sevenpmrocks7

Sarah Palin didn't even say the things Tina Fey said. Tina twisted them. Palin said you can see parts of Russia from parts of the USA and Tina said Palin could see Russia from her house. Way to look at facts!! You probably have a bright future in journalism

By getreal13

Really man. I've heard of run on sentences when someone is writing but not when they are speaking.

By JB

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What if it was a weight issue? It's NBC's show, if they wanted her to lose weight then she should have if she wanted to stay on, double standard or not. Granted people have different body types and general shapes but being significantly overweight as a result of lifestyle is another thing. Why does that have to be accepted and overlooked.

By Peggy

And what makes you think you know anything about her lifestyle choices? You live with her? You spend every waking hour following her around to see if she eats right and exercises? How big are you? Is everything that goes in your mouth healthy? Do you exercise daily? I suppose you are perfect in every way, oh, except for being judgemental and a "know it all"!

By Sasha

They never required that a male cast member lose weight, so it is sexist and wrong.

Friday 18 September

By SheQuon

In all fairness, Lorne Michaels has put a lot of men on the show simply because they were kinda cute, no matter how unfunny they were. I'm sure if Jimmy Fallon had packed on pounds he never would've been allowed to stink up Weekend Update all the time--and today we wouldn't have that fine hour of programming after The Tonight Show.

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