On October 25th, 2010, Marie Claire published a hateful Maura Kelly article titled "Should "Fatties" Get a Room?" It compared plus-size "fatties" to drunks and heroin addicts, and alleges that it is "gross" and inappropriate to show plus-size people on television:
"I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch a very, very fat person simply walk across a room %u2014 just like I'd find it distressing if I saw a very drunk person stumbling across a bar or a heroine addict slumping in a chair."
The article also claimed that "morbidly obese" actors on television promoted an unhealthy lifestyle. Kelly's subsequent apology added injury to insult by claiming her comments were only intended for the "morbidly obese," and associated being plus-size with having an eating disorder. Marie Claire defends these views and refuses to take disciplinary action.
Fed up? Sign this petition and tell Marie Claire to stop the fat-phobia!
We the undersigned take offense at the hateful, ignorant, and judgemental opinion piece Maura Kelly wrote on October 25th, 2010, titled "Should "Fatties" Get a Room?"
This piece compared plus-size "fatties" to drunks and drug users, and claimed their presence on television shows was "gross" and inappropriate. It also claimed that showing "morbidly obese" people on television promoted an unhealthy lifestyle. Kelly's subsequent apology added injury to insult by claiming her comments were only intended for the "morbidly obese." These value judgments are superficial, hurtful, and prejudicial.
As readers of your magazine, we are offended and disappointed by this hateful reporting, and Kelly's weak apology. We believe she is in need of help, and suffers from body image issues that impact both her reporting and her audience.
In light of this, please do not feature any articles by Maura Kelly unless she:
1. Receives treatment for her body dysmorphia.
2. Publically addresses where she draws the line between fat, thin, and normal--- and how health plays into it.
3. Sits down to talk to some of the people she offended for at least one day, during which she might gain insight into their experiences. She will hear how fat-phobia hurts them, join them during meal-time, and witness how the fashion magazine she works for impacts their daily choices.
4. Writes an article about this meeting. These meetings should continue until she understands the impact her words have on this population segment.
Until she fulfills these four steps, and a licensed therapist declares her healthy, please end Maura Kelly's contract, and put a moratorium on her writing about health, beauty or fashion at any Hearst Corporation or IPC Media publications.
Thank you for taking your time to read this letter. We hope you will make things right.
