In February, headlines around the world deemed director Kevin Smith "too fat to fly" after he was ordered to leave a Southwest Airlines flight on which he had already been seated.
After an angry explosion on his Twitter made national news, Smith did his best to let the controversy slip away -- until he was called upon to shoot scenes for the 'Cop Out' DVD release.
Smith moved in front of the camera to film hilarious DVD extras, continually making light of his now-famous girth. Without naming the airline, Smith referenced the situation that spun so crazily out of control.
"It was cathartic for me," Smith tells PopEater of the 'Cop Out' video shoot. "Just because an airline tells you you're fat doesn't mean it's true. I mean, yes I'm fat, but not like that. So it was kinda cool, and I can say the extras are full of my fat jokes."
After his removal from the flight became national news, Smith tried to dial back the escalating hype. "I thought, 'Ewww, this is becoming Octomom,'" he tells us. "I thought, 'This is becoming every gross, public quasi-celebrity thing I have always been grossed out by. Don't feed into it. Don't go on Larry King even though he's asking.'"
Quitting his furious, anti-Southwest tweets cold turkey, he hoped the controversy would fade. "The most important thing I did was to stay away from a camera," the 39-year-old 'Clerks' and 'Dogma' director says.
But while laying low, Smith was called to shoot the 'Maximum Comedy Mode' extras for the DVD for 'Cop Out,' his Warner Bros. movie starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan. Although the DVD would not appear until months later (it drops in a Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack on July 20), he still had major reservations.
"I didn't want to tape it," he says. "The Southwest thing happened and four days later I was told I had to do this thing for Warner Bros. I was like, 'What thing? On camera? You want me to get on camera now? Now, after that s**t?'"
He came around to doing the job and then some. Smith clearly purged some body-image demons in the shoot as he mocks himself on film -- the fat jokes run fast and furious. All the while Smith dons a sharp jacket, which has special significance -- it's a wardrobe favorite that still fit him even after the incident.
"That's the fat boy version of pulling out your skinny jeans," Smith says. "If I could still fit into that coat, you don't have me yet. I'm still 'thin.'"
And whether he's truly "thin" or not, Kevin Smith is getting the last laugh.
Really? Why? Why should the airlines have to use up 2 seats for one person? Doesn't seem fair to expect that. Expecting the person to pay for two seats? Yes. If they went to a restaurant and wanted two entrees they would have to pay for them both, right?
Kevin Smith is NOWHERE near big enough to need two seats, even in coach. The whole thing was just plain stupid. I've seen people way bigger than him fit into coach seats just fine.
So are you going to be volunteering YOUR seat and willingly fly on the next available open seat if there is no room because someone else took up two seats?
No, he nor anyone else who are grossly overweight should get an extra seat because they can't stop stuffing their faces. They take up two seats then they should pay for two seats. Screw being politically correct. Fat is disgusting and these overweight people need to stop eating so damm much. Try one piece of pie instead of the whole freaking pie for dessert. Have you ever seen a big overweight person without their clothes on??? It's disgusting.
I have seen plenty of overweight women naked. So nice to see wonderfully full breasts, curvy hips, beautiful, perfectly round butts, and so soft to the touch. Skinny chicks are like boys with vaginas, and they don't age well.
Hey guys, even as a vampire I know that hating on people of any size, gender or race is way wrong. So chill out world. That said, larger people do make delicious meals.
Actually, Cop Out made OVER the cost to make it. It was not considered a flop. It had a pretty stong opening. 2nd to Shutter Island. That's a good opening.
First of all, Cop Out was one of the worst reviewed films of the year. I don't always listen to critics but when they ALL hate it I kind of pay attention. Secondly, a good opening weekend doesn't mean sh*t. The film may have made more than it cost but was still considered a major disappointment by everybody concerned.
He is not big boned, he is obese. Obese people weigh as much or more than 2 regular and/or thin people. If they expect the airlines to eat the added expense, then shouldn't supermarkets also only charge half the expense for their food? I mean it's not their fault that they have to eat twice as much food just to stay alive and obese. Restaurants too, should share the burden so that the airlines and markets are not the only ones to shoulder this burden. Now, let's talk clothing stores... Pay up or walk. It's as simple as that, fatso!
I'm obese too but I wouldn't subject anyone to my problem.. That's why I would have DRIVEN the 300 mile trip. Don't need a car rental or a taxi and I'm sure Kevin owns a nice set of wheels
That's just me Nico, I've driven heavy trucks and now buses professionally. I love to drive. Besides, time is money, but if you use your own vehicle you have more control over your own timeline, not Southwest's I drive a 97 Taurus from Philly to Pittsburgh. I'm sure Kevin has a better ride
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In February, headlines around the world deemed director Kevin Smith "too fat to fly" after he was ordered to leave a Southwest Airlines flight on which he had already been seated.
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Allowances should be made for overweight fliers. If it means the loss of a seat, so be it.
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Really? Why? Why should the airlines have to use up 2 seats for one person? Doesn't seem fair to expect that. Expecting the person to pay for two seats? Yes. If they went to a restaurant and wanted two entrees they would have to pay for them both, right?
Kevin Smith is NOWHERE near big enough to need two seats, even in coach. The whole thing was just plain stupid. I've seen people way bigger than him fit into coach seats just fine.
So are you going to be volunteering YOUR seat and willingly fly on the next available open seat if there is no room because someone else took up two seats?
No, he nor anyone else who are grossly overweight should get an extra seat because they can't stop stuffing their faces. They take up two seats then they should pay for two seats. Screw being politically correct. Fat is disgusting and these overweight people need to stop eating so damm much. Try one piece of pie instead of the whole freaking pie for dessert. Have you ever seen a big overweight person without their clothes on??? It's disgusting.
I have seen plenty of overweight women naked. So nice to see wonderfully full breasts, curvy hips, beautiful, perfectly round butts, and so soft to the touch. Skinny chicks are like boys with vaginas, and they don't age well.
PS Loved "Cop Out".
I have always loved this guy. I'd sit next to him on a flight anytime--even if it was long, non-stop flight.
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Hey guys, even as a vampire I know that hating on people of any size, gender or race is way wrong. So chill out world. That said, larger people do make delicious meals.
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Are you for real? Using your real name?
He's just bringing this up again to drum up publicity for his giant flop of a film.
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Actually, Cop Out made OVER the cost to make it. It was not considered a flop. It had a pretty stong opening. 2nd to Shutter Island. That's a good opening.
First of all, Cop Out was one of the worst reviewed films of the year. I don't always listen to critics but when they ALL hate it I kind of pay attention. Secondly, a good opening weekend doesn't mean sh*t. The film may have made more than it cost but was still considered a major disappointment by everybody concerned.
Being fat and flying is American! Suck it Southwest. Get bigger seats for my American butt! I did for my Hummer! USA Rules!
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Yeah, USA rules as the fattest slobs in the world. Enjoy your Hummer, Tubby
He is not big boned, he is obese. Obese people weigh as much or more than 2 regular and/or thin people. If they expect the airlines to eat the added expense, then shouldn't supermarkets also only charge half the expense for their food? I mean it's not their fault that they have to eat twice as much food just to stay alive and obese. Restaurants too, should share the burden so that the airlines and markets are not the only ones to shoulder this burden. Now, let's talk clothing stores... Pay up or walk. It's as simple as that, fatso!
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fat slob
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I'm obese too but I wouldn't subject anyone to my problem.. That's why I would have DRIVEN the 300 mile trip. Don't need a car rental or a taxi and I'm sure Kevin owns a nice set of wheels
Reply
Time is money and that's a rather long car trip. I still don't see how Smith had any problems fitting into a seat. He's not THAT fat.
That's just me Nico, I've driven heavy trucks and now buses professionally. I love to drive. Besides, time is money, but if you use your own vehicle you have more control over your own timeline, not Southwest's I drive a 97 Taurus from Philly to Pittsburgh. I'm sure Kevin has a better ride
The airlines should also construct bigger lavatories, along with shock absorbers installed on the 'john.'
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