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 Jim

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Did anybody ever think that Ms. Wilson was cut because the show needs to be saved? Sure, keep "The New", but make the skits better. Almost every skit I have seen since Season 6 is a waste of time. When SNL has Brian Williams, or any other anchorman/woman as host, SNL should have him/her do "The News". Why not? It would be a change of pace.

By Deigon

Of course she was fired for not being a size 0! God forbid a woman in show business have the audacity to show herself if she weighs more than 80lbs.

By packardfan614

Reena RIGHT ON

By Kat

It doesn't matter what industry you are in, there has always been a double standard between men and women and weight. A large man is called stocky, "line backer" etc....a large woman however is only called "pig" "cow" etc.
We are "weight racists" in this country. While it is illegal and socially unacceptable to disparage a person because of their race, religion, age, or sex, it is perfectly all right (even encouraged) to make nasty comments and even discriminate against someone who is "over-weight". We are intelligent enough to accept the fact that we were created in different colors, different hair, different eyes, even different heights, but somehow cannot grasp the fact that we were created in different shapes, sizes, and weights! Yes, there are human beings that make bad choices and pack on weight, however that is what human beings do....sometimes make bad choices!! We are so weight discriminatory in the US that we have pre-school children so afraid they might get fat, they are on diets! One of the biggest child hood fears are that they might be considered fat, so therefore, not worth anything.
Get it together folks....
Oh, and by the way, I must struggle with my weight in order to keep myself just under the "acceptable" weight limit for someone my height and gender. Since I'm tall (5'11"), I've always been considered "a big girl". I weigh 150 lbs, but that doesn't matter. I'm ostrasized and made fun of all the time. It's accepted and encouraged, so they keep it up.
Let's think logically for a few moments. Overweight isn't good for health, etc. But just because you're not a size 00 doesn't mean you're not worth anything.

By Helen

Tha's a ridiculous name. I guess celebs have this need for constant attention and in this case at the expense of their son.

By Ronnie

Tina Fey is HOT! She's cute on her own, and yes she "looks like Palin", but beyond that she's a comedy genius, proven by her years as a writer and actor on SNL, Mean Girls and now 30 Rock. The only difference between her and Palin is she's not a pig in makeup, she's got natural beauty...

By Dianne1256

I thought Casey Wilson was very funny on the show and they should bring her back on. She did not look all that heavy, I thought it was nice someone was on the show who wasn't a skinny stick figure for once for the ladies.

By Kitty

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Maybe she was fired because she wasn't funny. It is a comedy show.

By Kathleen

That's a picture of Casey being over weight?
If she lost 30 pounds she'd look anorexic.
She looks lovely. Have you seen some of the fat men on SNL? Belushi,Akroyd,and others..funny and successful.

By RayHend

The truth is, Wilson was never funny. Ever. Having said that, SNL is nowhere what it used to be in terms of providing top notch comedic talent.

Back in the 70s and early to mid 80s any number of regulars on SNL could have single handedly carried the entire show from beginning to end. Now we have Keenan Thompson, Bobby Moynihan, and thankfully, only until recently, Casey Wilson.

Personally, I always thought she must have been a family member of one of the executives or something. Terrible, terrible comedy artist, even by current SNL standards.

By CF

Tina was a writer not an actor, and Wilson just is not funny at all. She's is the most annoying character on the show, especially when she sings. I don't believe the weight issue. She's not right for the show and I'm glad she won't be back because she's just not funny, period.

By Roger

Nicole, I think the name Sparrow is fabulous! Nice choice, definitly unique!

By Martie

Sarah Palin might, underscore might, be cute, but she is dumber than a hoe handle. PLEASE

By Ashley

Okay, so let's recap here: the whole story was about how this young woman was fired because of a double standard on SNL? How the hell did it get turn to Fox News? Sounds like some can't stay on topic! And as for Fox News...what, can conservatives not have their own news? Do we have to listen to the liberal propaganda too? So much for free speech...

By Patricia Kleinbrook

Tina Fey at least has a functioning brain! Palin can't put two sentences together on her own!

By pat

NBC WNBC OR GE ARE NO LONGER VIEWED OR PURCHASED IN MY HOME

By David

That bogus. There have been plenty of VERY overweight people on SNL and a few who are still currently on.

By Paul St. Austin

I find it hard to believe she was fired because of her weight. After all, isn't she about the same weight now as when they hired her?

By woohoo

She is certainly not the only overweight person on SNL. What about that roly poly guy whpo p[laayed fat albert? He should then if weights an issue be off. Ummm what are we looking for here comedy or chubbiness. Is this a weight watchers program? I'm not looking at the size of the person, just their ability to be funny and entertaining! And what does looks also have to do with being funny? some folk are off track here!and no I am not here to defened anyone!

By Mike

I don't think Casey was fired because of her weight. I think she was let go because she is just not funny. I can't remember any skits where she was funny in. She doesn't look funny and she seems uncomfortable on the show. I don't know much about her. She seems like a nice gal. Maybe they didn't write to her strengths or put her in better skits but she's just not funny. There's no way she's fat. She's not pencil thin but she's not fat. At least not to me. I'm sure she'll be successful in something else. I don't remember Julia Louis Dryfus being all that funny on SNL back in the day and she's had a nice career. Good luck Casey.

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