Responding to hateful speech from Howard Stern feels almost silly - after all, being an asshole bigot is what the guy does for a living. But I'm too damn pissed off by his comments about Gabby Sidibe to leave them alone.
Stern and Robin Quivers, a black woman who lost 70 lbs through extreme dieting, went off on Sidibe following the Oscar ceremony, mostly targeting her for her weight. Stern called her, "The most enormous fat black chick I've ever seen." And the hate just kept coming:
"You feel bad because everyone pretends that she's part of show business and she's never going to be in another movie," Stern added. "What movie is she going to be in? 'Blind Side 2,' she could be the football player."
Stern tried to frame the fat shaming as concern for Sidibe's health:
"You just want to say to her, listen honey, now you got a little money in the bank, go get yourself thin, you're gonna die in like three years."
What a load of crap. Hollywood runs on the disordered eating of female celebrities. We watch actors get thinner and thinner and thinner and be praised for it. We read about the fad diets that are really dangerous eating disorders with trendy names. But the health concerns only come up when talking about an actor who's fat?
The radio segment is also a huge racism party. Stern gets Sidibe's name wrong in as many ways as he possibly can, which is apparently hilarious. Then there's Stern and Quivers' take on the, "Ohmygod, Gabby Sidibe is not Precious Jones!" meme. See, some folks are really struggling with the idea that Sidibe isn't Precious, as if the character is the only kind of person a fat black woman can be and out of an inability to recognize that someone who looks like Sidibe can, um, act. Stern and Quivers aren't buying that Sidibe is a real person, though - of course she must be Precious!
Robin Quivers: Look at that girl, she's had despair.
Howard Stern: She does despair. You don't think she walks around like Precious?
Well, in Sidibe's own words:
"When I was 14 I decided that whatever people say and no matter what I look like, I was going to be happy with myself - it's like a force of will. And it worked for me."
Stern and Quivers sadly can't seem to see why Sidibe is so popular among celebrities and fans alike. She's a total fan girl and is not letting her new-found fame change that. How do you not love her when she aces 'N Sync trivia (with Lance Bass' help) on Leno or hits on Gerard Butler on the red carpet? And Sidibe doesn't look like your typical Hollywood star. She's refreshingly relatable, like that friend you talk pop culture with all the time actually became a star and is still awesome. Sidibe's a great role model for followers of pop culture who don't meet Hollywood's ideal of beauty, meaning, to varying degrees, anyone.
Stern and Quivers' rant wasn't just cruel to Sidibe, but to everyone who looks up to her as a model of change in pop culture, especially fat black girls who finally get to see someone like themselves in a positive light when they turn on the TV or open a magazine.
And I know this isn't actually relevant to the discussion, but I thought Sidibe was one of the most gorgeous people on the Oscar red carpet:
As for the claim that Sidibe will never work again? Sadly, this hits home - there are not a lot of parts in Hollywood for black actors or fat actors. Prove Stern wrong, Hollywood.
If you want to subject yourself to the whole segment like I did you can listen to it on YouTube (I haven't been able to find a complete transcript, but there's not great subtitles available for the video). You can contact the Howard Stern Show to let them know what you think about their fat phobia and racism here.
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Juvenile, tasteless, insensitive, and offensive. This is Howard Stern personified. He reminds me of some immature jerk in high school, except he never grew up and never grew out of that mindset.
Gabourey Sidibe rocks! She did look great at the Oscars and had one of the best dresses on the red carpet.
(Too bad the auto-ad thingie puts up weight-loss ads.)
Apparently she already has a role in an upcoming Showtime show:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118016244.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&ref=bd_tv
I think Gabby will get plenty of roles. She's been in one movie and already got an Oscar nomination! In my opinion, she should have won. She was a billion times better than Sandra Bullock. Anyway, Gabby has great connections in Oprah and Tyler Perry. She'll probably be in the next film either of them make. The only thing I'm afraid of is that her weight would be a central factor in the film's plot. I really hope she isn't the love interest of some chubby chaser.
THANK YOU for writing a post about this. I just read about Stern's comments and I know it's pointless to get worked up over what this DOUCHE WEAZEL says but I can't help it. What a hateful asshole!!
As for her not getting anymore work, you don't have to worry about that, at least not right now. She's already signed on to a tv series with Laura Linney (I believe it's going to be on HBO or Showtime) called "The Big C" which is slated to start I think later this year (maybe fall 2010?) and she's working on a new movie titled "Yelling to the Sky." I'm sure if she's anywhere near as good in those as she was in Precious this is just the beginning for her.
Huge props for the douche weasel bit. Makes me have hope for the world =)
Gabby Sidibe just got cast in a new series on Showtime, so I'm not sure the "she'll never work again" criticism is so on point.
Ummm, yeah. As would be expected, Stern is wrong. See?
Gabourey Sidibe joins Showtime's 'Big C': http://bit.ly/bAoA6Q
Perhaps he's just bitter because, after "Private Parts," no one wanted to cast HIM in a movie. ;)
Ummm... yeah. As would be expected, Stern is wrong. See?
Gabourey Sidibe joins Showtime's 'Big C'
bit.ly/bAoA6Q
He's probably just bitter because, after the vanity piece that was "Private Parts," no one wanted to cast HIM in any movies. ;)
I could only look so good in a gown and look at home in it. Why was Howard Stern ever cool?
Hi Jos! I would suggest adding a trigger warning to the headline of this post. I mean, one knows what to expect... Personally, whenever I see a trigger warning at the start of a post I make an immediate decision whether or not I want to deal with however the subject matter will make be feel. I dunno, just a thought. Thanks!!
Oh Howard Stern, he truly is the gift that keeps on giving. And when I say "gift", I mean the kind that the dog leaves on the carpet..
Kudos for calling out Stern for dressing up his ridicule in fake concern for Sidibe's health. Because, yeah, we all know Howard Stern is such a crusader for public health and women's wellbeing. Please.
On a different but related note though, I want to call attention to your point "But the health concerns only come up when talking about an actor who's fat?" Because the thing is, they don't. Not anymore. I'm not saying it's as ubiquitous (yet) as fat-shaming but I'm seeing more and more thin-shaming these days too. In particular, I recall some VH1 clip show special I watched a few years ago (I was home sick!) that was called something like "How thin is too thin?" It was basically just a bunch of footage of female celebrities that were either known for being extremely thin or who had recently lost a lot of weight (Lindsey Lohan, long the go-to target for all kinds of misogynist bashing, was among them). And it had it's catty commentators expressing similar disingenuous concern about the effects of being underweight on one's health. But of course, the whole thing really was just a big schadenfreude gawkfest that invited viewers to say "Wow! I may not be totally satisfied with my body but at least I'm not some mindless bimbo who's willing to starve herself for fame like those stick-thin media whores! She looks like hell!" I also remember all kinds of fuss and hand-wringing over naturally thin Keira Knightley's weight and whether or not she had an eating disorder when she first started getting big a few years ago. A lot of it was just plain cruel. I felt really sorry for the poor kid.
I think what's happened is that the concern over the standard of thinness and about eating disorders has finally become high-profile enough that the mainstream media, as it does so well, has just absorbed it and turned it from a response to an important and alarming issue into just one more way to divide women against each other and encourage people to point and laugh at "freaks." So now you can not only express out-and-out disdain for fat women by couching it in concern about the obesity epidemic, you can also express out-and-out disdain for thin women by couching it in concern about rising eating disorder stats. Nobody is ever safe and when it comes to turning legitimate social issues into ploys to appeal to people's worst instincts, the mainstream media is unrivaled.
love your first sentence. made me LOL. (:
I get so damn sick of people excusing their fat discrimination on "I'm just worried about their health." Guess what? I could most certainly be considered overweight, and yet I tend to eat better and have a more well-rounded diet than most of my friends. I have no health problems because of my weight; I'm actually in pretty good health and take pride in my ability to surprise people with my endurance. Being over the "normal size" (whatever that means) does not make one "so beyond unhealthy." Gabourey's had some stress in her life, from what I've heard, so I doubt that her weight was one of her primary concerns when her mother was singing in the subways for money. Sometimes there are reasons for being overweight that go beyond "you eat too much, you're a glutton, you're a sloth." So many people make these absurd generalizations about weight because we don't seem to comprehend all the factors that can make a person overweight. Stress, genetics, working/living conditions, medical problems, even depression.
But I suppose that Howard Stern would rather have Gabourey be a walking stick without the dynamic personality that she has, which was probably forged by years of having to put up with disparaging remarks about and unfair treatment because of her weight. That personality is what makes her special. Besides, shouldn't he be directing the criticism at the Hollywood system, if one of his points of argument is that she won't be getting other roles on TV or in films (which has already been proven untrue)?
I guess he's just jealous that she's not a talentless hack like he is. :/
as a fat, dark-skinned black woman myself, this especially strikes home. glad, you posted this b/c i just had a convo about this the other day that started on twitter and ended up via a phone conversation. Someone tweeted: "why are they hating on Gabby S? shes such a sweet person?"...i replied: "its not so much her they hate, but fat black woman-ness that is so hated." Yes, im cynical, but i was DEAD-SERIOUS!!!
media hands down messages, institutional and state policies say the same thing everyday, public and private conversations enforce and perpetuate this too. if you are woman-identified, if you are of African descent (that includes African-born or the millions of us in the African diaspora), if you are dark-skinned, if you are fat, you are unfavorable. wtf happens when you are ALL of these simultaneously and you dont have the luxury of shedding one identity to priortize another?
most folks aren't has blatant as Stern and Quivers (internalized oppression anyone?), but whether its ambi adds calling for "even skintones", to population control methods/tactics that range from criminalizing/policing of dark bodies by putting us in prisons to state insurance plans that will sterilize you free of charge, but wont even treat a UTI (talking about Louisiana...Take Charge Program, check it out, real talk!!),I see sooo many reinforcements that only echo what my experiences have shown me are true and fight everyday of my life to eradicate: "we were never meant to survive."
Gabourey Sidibe, you do the damn thang grrl!!!
I think that Gabourey Sidibe is absolutely beautiful. Not just physically (she is very pretty), but her beauty shines from within. In Precious, she really made you believe that she WAS Precious Jones, so her beauty was tragic. You fall in love with her, feel for her, and want her to succeed. In real life, she's so happy and positive. It seems like she glows, and it's because she knows that she's beautiful, even if some assholes want to tell her different.
Why does this man cease to surprise me? Gabourey Sidibe does freaking rock and she's an extremely beautiful woman. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the empowerment she feels is all that really matters, so Howard Stern needs to put a damn sock in it.
Speaking of which, I'm going to go look for his contact information to send him an angry email or tweet or something. Grr!
I used to tune my radio that was across my room to Howard Stern in the mornings and set the alarm. Nothing got me out of bed faster than wanting to turn that guy off before I heard another offensive word out of his head.
What a jackass.
Why is this shallow, sexist, classless waste of oxygen still being paid to spew his uneducated and meaningless opinions at redneck white trash and frat boys? If Gabourey Sidibe was a male, he wouldn't give a shit. It's pathetic and sickening how people react to overweight women but not to overweight men. This woman is beautiful, relatable, and most importantly, has pride and self-confidence, which makes her a wonderful role-model. Unfortunately, as you said, it's unlikely that she will be hired again for anything other than minor roles. In showbusiness, for women, you must be skinny, white, pretty, and young to get any of the good roles. That sexiest bullshit is why women are starving themselves to skin and bones while beautiful women like Tyra Banks and Kelly Clarkson are ridiculed for being too "fat" by the media. UGH.
"When I was 14 I decided that whatever people say and no matter what I look like, I was going to be happy with myself - it's like a force of will. And it worked for me."
That's awesome. I wonder what makes some people able to do that and others not to - and I say that as someone who has struggled with body image and food issues while always weighing around the "ideal" or "healthy" (both problematic words) weight for my height.
Well, she is going to be on a new Showtime program called The Big C. That's not finding work again? And her dress rules!
According to IMDB, apparently she is coming out with another film this year. So maybe there is hope?
Stern is a jerk, as to a lesser degree, were the people at the show who insisted that she was beautiful. If we criticize fashion industry’s love for the unrealistic junkie-thin look, why is the other extreme okay? Fat shaming is terrible. Fat denial isn’t far behind.
Excuse me, but I am wondering if it occurred to you that the people who said she looked beautiful might have said so because they actually thought she looked beautiful?
It sounds to me like you're saying fat people are not capable of looking beautiful. I don't see anyone partaking in "fat denial" - she is fat, AND she looked great. Just because YOU appear to believe that fat people can't be beautiful does not mean that everyone ought to think so, or that anyone who does think so is wrong.
Also, there are plenty of people who would find your description of "junkie-thin" people to be offensive, and those who believe people with this type of body are beautiful as well. If "fat-shaming" and "fat-denial" are both so wrong, why is "thin-shaming" acceptable?
Time to stop judging based soley on the size and shape of a person's body, methinks.
This comment is unacceptable. So if someone is very thin they're junkie-like? It can't be natural I guess right? And you're just fat-shaming like Stern as well. Read about fat acceptance for a while before you come back and decide to make these ridiculous comments.
First, my comment was specifically about the norm created by the fashion industry, a look that’s a result of starving and unrealistic photo retouching. Call it what you like. I understand fat acceptance just fine. What happened to Sidibe at the Oscars bypassed it and jumped straight to condescension. See all the showbiz people fussing around her. She seems like a smart woman who can tell the difference between the two. It wasn’t a Stern-level offense, but still quite hurtful.
Second, there’s thin line between acceptance and being an enabler to an unhealthy lifestyle.
You obviously DO NOT understand fat acceptance just fine.
WOW, what.
I pray that I read it wrong, but are you implying that she isn't beautiful, because she's overweight? I'm pretty sure it isn't being jerky to tell a GROWN WOMAN "Hey, eat whatever you want. Live what lifestyle you want, if you love yourself then I love you the way you are". She isn't a child, so there's no "enabling" here, and the "unhealthy lifestyle" part of your post is quite a lot of guessing on your part. Do you know her current blood pressure? Cholesterol? Glucose? It's my belief that she's absolutely gorgeous and there should be more women like her on the red carpet. And "junkie-thin"? Riiight, because people can't normally be that thin.
Saying this as a fat woman, I assume, at least I hope, that what anon was saying is not that she isn't beautiful, but that she comes up against a lot of disingenuous praise about her looks that can also be very hurtful. Praise like "Oh, you carry that dress so well, oh it's so slimming, oh you look so great for a girl like you" from people who then turn around and fat- or thin-shame non-fat celebs. If that's the case then I agree totally with anon. Otherwise he's just an asshole.
This is horribly worded, but I'm guessing you meant that it seems disingenuous coming from an industry where Jessica Simpson and Kelly Clarkson are considered "fat." For the entertainment industry, "fat" is very rarely, if ever, equals "beautiful," so to hear them toss the word "beautiful" around does seem a bit unexpected, I'll agree (if that's the bush you were beating around, anyway). And, coming from someone who's overweight, any time I get complimented on my appearance, I almost always fill in the phrase "for a big girl" in my head. "You look good (for a big girl)." So it never seems sincere or genuine, unless - perhaps - it's coming from my mother.
I could only look that good and comfy in that gown (skirt too long for biological purposes) and Gabourey Sidibe rocks that gown like one would look comfy in jeans!!!!! She is as far a 21st century icon, years from now, everybody will hold her up as an icon of acting and fashion.
Why was Howard Stern ever cool?
I do not have any respect for Howard stern ever since he made those comment about Selena right after she died. This is the same man, who asks women to take off their clothes and have sex with his listeners, who got upset when his own daughter wanted do a nude scene and try to scare/guilt her out of it. Rock on ,Ms. Sidibe. I know she is not Hollywood beautiful( but still very lovely), but hopeful she will get great roles and have a nice long successful career.