Why America Hates 'Fatties' More Than Druggies

By Jo Piazza Posted Feb 26th 2010 11:35AM

Kelly Osbourne looks super-slim and sexy on the latest cover of US Weekly. The rock spawn and former reality TV star says she got more flak for being overweight than for being a "raging drug addict." We aren't surprised. In the Hollywood hierarchy of sin, fat is up there on the list of no-nos along with being a bad mom, being a boring interview or dating John Mayer. Drug addicts get the glory, attention and sympathy while little Miss Fattie Pants has to hope some diet company will offer her big bucks to slim down on their product, pray for results and then appear scantily clad on the cover of a magazine (we're looking at you Valerie Bertinelli!). What's the root cause of this discrimination? We here at PopEater think the problem is threefold -- our explanation is after the jump.

1. Fat is seen as a choice. For many, being fat is viewed as a self-control problem. A fat person is someone who let themselves go, didn't work out or is lazy, whereas drug addiction is viewed as a disease. Case in point: The contestants on 'The Biggest Loser' have to work their gigantic butts off to win the show while the folks on 'Celebrity Rehab' are treated with kid gloves and given rewards for not shooting up heroin in the bathroom.

"Even Jessica Simpson can wear the wrong pair of jeans one day and be criticized across the country," says StyleList's Marissa Gold. "Whether it's for health or aesthetic reasons or both, no one wants to be fat," Gold adds.

2. Americans are self-loathing. We're a country of fatties. There are way more obese people than cocaine addicts who turn their lives into the subject matter of reality TV shows like 'The Osbournes.'

"Most well-adjusted people don't have a snowball's chance in hell of becoming actual drug addicts," says style guru Nadine Haobsh. "Sure druggie people smell, are out of control and make nonsensical choices that the rest of us find uncomfortable, like trying to be Creative Director for Emanuel Ungaro," adds Haobsh. "But fat people, well, we're all just one breakup or lost job away from cold comfort in the (un)forgiving arms of Domino's or Krispy Kreme. Americans hate fat people because, unlike that glossy celebrity who consumes 8 calories per day and is a secret smackhead, they really are just like us. Only with less willpower and bigger thighs. And that's terrifying."

Americans tend to be harder on the people who reflect their own weaknesses, so they hate-on the bigguns more. "It's strange. Americans are fat, but they have an aversion to fat people more so than drug addicts," says comedy writer and social commentator Caroline Waxler. "Not surprising -- drug addicts are thin! And usually very glamorous," adds Waxler. "They have the smoky eye thing nailed down, without makeup! And, please, who wants to hang out with a bunch of fat people? They might want want some of my Dunkin' Donuts and drug addicts are too busy smoking crack to put their hands in my box of Glazed Munchkins."

3. Fat is front and center. Unlike addiction, which can go undetected for years, fat is a very obvious flaw. "Food takes a more immediate toll on the physical body and what is Hollywood if not a solely an outward-appearance-oriented microcosm of society," explains psychologist Cooper Lawrence. "While addiction has been glamorized, fat people are seen as having no control over what they put in their lazy mouths. It's 'sex, drugs and rock & roll', not 'sex, donuts and rock & roll.'"

Regardless of what you believe, thin is in, fat is out, and addiction, though not preferred, is just one more way for the once-famous to reclaim fame and stardom after years on the rails. Hollywood, Hollywood, you're so vain...

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Kelly Osbourne Pics

Kelly Osbourne backstage at G-Star Raw Presents NY Raw Fall/Winter 2010 Collection at Hammerstein Ballroom on February 16 in New York. More Kelly Osbourne photos >>

Getty Images for G-Star

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Kelly Osbourne Snapshots

NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 16: Kelly Osbourne backstage at G-Star Raw Presents NY Raw Fall/Winter 2010 Collection at Hammerstein Ballroom on February 16, 2010 in New York, New York. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for G-Star) *** Local Caption *** Kelly Osbourne

Kelly Osbourne Snapshots

NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 16: Kelly Osbourne and guest attend G-Star Raw Presents NY Raw Fall/Winter 2010 Collection dinner at STK on February 16, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for G-Star) *** Local Caption *** Kelly Osbourne

Kelly Osbourne Snapshots

NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 16: Kelly Osbourne and jewelry designer Brooke Dulien attend G-Star Raw Presents NY Raw Fall/Winter 2010 Collection dinner at STK on February 16, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for G-Star) *** Local Caption *** Kelly Osbourne;Brooke Dulien

Kelly Osbourne Snapshots

NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 16: (L-R) Actress Mena Suvari, Kelly Osbourne and jewelry designer Brooke Dulien attend G-Star Raw Presents NY Raw Fall/Winter 2010 Collection dinner at STK on February 16, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for G-Star) *** Local Caption *** Mena Suvari;Kelly Osbourne;Brooke Dulien

Kelly Osbourne Snapshots

NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 16: Mena Suvari and Kelly Osbourne attend G-Star Raw Presents NY Raw Fall/Winter 2010 Collection dinner at STK on February 16, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for G-Star) *** Local Caption *** Mena Suvari;Kelly Osbourne

Kelly Osbourne Snapshots

Tags: jessica simpson, kelly osbourne

Comments

(33)

Friday 26 February

By gail

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

it's disgusting........drugs are addictive..........eating excessively isn't......get real..........it's gross

By sirena

Vote down Vote up Report this

Actually, food addiction is just as real as drug addiction.
Most people are not fat or strung out by choice.

By Tommy

What if you're Fat ..and a Drug addict?.......LOL

By lita

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

With Rush Limbaugh, you have both.

By Angel

I have to laugh at these young people who have so many negative things to say about the overweight. I can't wait to see you in 20-40 years when you are as overweight as the rest of us middle-aged folks. It has to do with metabolism, chemistry, and genetics... when you're pushing retirement age, you may not have the energy to work out three days a week... so walk a mile in the other guys shoes for a change...

By mintrubble71

Quite frankly, I think Kelly looked better with a few more pounds on her. Now she looks like she has a giant, jowly, bulldog face on a stick body.

Monday 01 March

By Loie

I've been skinny, and I've been fat, and now I eat healhy foods and I feel wonderful. If you don't care what you put in your body - either unhealthy foods or drugs - then you will ultimately die before you should. I think that's more important than what Hollywood thinks!

Tuesday 23 March

I laughed out loud when I read point number one. Being fat is seen as a choice. This implies that taking drugs isn't. How absurd is that? I find people who think this way frighteningly stupid.

By lita m

Oh, gail. You are so right. Overeating is so gross, while waking up in your own vomit, or developing ulcers on your face from all that meth use, or the scarring of your arms from shooting up is ever so elegant.

Wednesday 24 March

By L.A. Woman

I don't believe "fat" people should be criticized in a cruel manner. However, being overweight or obese is unhealthy! There's no getting around that. In regards to someone like Jessica Simpson, she isn't and was never fat. At one point she just wasn't svelte and didn't meet the physical standards of "Hollywood".

I believe that most people are overweight and obese due to ignorance and (sometimes) laziness. Speaking from experience, getting into/staying in shape and eating a healthy diet takes a lot of work and dedication.

Saturday 27 March

By Ladyblue

I really don't care how people live their lives as long as they don't impact others, but I do feel sad when I see obese children. In many cases these children are being bullied and taunted every day because of their weight issues. They have low self-esteem which will continue into adulthood and they are likely to have health issues before they are out of their teens. Their futures are going to be rough. I have to wonder how parents let this happen to their children.

Thursday 25 March

By Celt

I don't feel dread and loathing at the idea of a drug addict sitting next to me in coach.

Tuesday 29 June

By Kelly

Hollywood?? You mean everyone. Everyone hates fat people. They're disgusting. Anyone who says they don't mind is just lying because they're desperate to get laid.

Even worse than their disgusting bodies is their disgusting attitudes. "It's not my fault I'm fat! I can't help it! I eat just as many bacon double cheeseburgers as everyone else!" "It's my metabolism!" "OMG how dare you tell me to get to a healthy weight! Don't you know that would require me to starve myself??" Yeah, because all the billions of people in the world who aren't fatties are starving.

Fat people: You can lose weight. You just don't want to. You want to forcefully change everyone else's opinions of you instead of changing yourself. As such, your fat is a reflection of your personality, and finding it disgusting is not "shallow" or "superficial"; it's the truth.

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