Following her 1997 role in Titanic, Kate was subjected to unbelievably sickening media criticism about her weight. In fact, while she was wearing the below dress, one reporter said, “Kate’s a little melted and poured into that dress. You know, she just needed two sizes larger, and it would have probably been okay.”
After what appeared to be a photoshopped paparazzi photo of Tyra Banks in a swimsuit surfaced in 2007, tabloids mocked her with headlines like “Thigh-ra Banks” and “America’s Next Top Waddle.” Tyra decided to address the criticism, by wearing the same swimsuit on The Tyra Banks Show, telling critics to, “Kiss my fat ass.”
Nicole Richie was often labeled as the “fat friend” on The Simple Life with Paris Hilton in the early ’00s. This mischaracterization highlights the unrealistic body expectations that were rampant at the time.
In 1985, during her first appearance on The Tonight Show, Joan Rivers questioned Oprah Winfrey’s weight on national television, suggesting she should lose 15 pounds to be invited back. Oprah has recounted this experience, sharing that she remembers Joan saying to her, “Tell me why you are so fat.”
Renée’s 2001 portrayal of Bridget Jones in Bridget Jones’s Diary subjected her to intense focus on her physical appearance. To authentically represent the character, Zellweger gained approximately 30 pounds, a decision that sparked extensive media commentary.
I am sure you have more to add to the list, so let us know in the comments or by sharing in the anonymous comments form below. We may do another version to shed light on this, so it stops happening once and for all!