Topic: Mindy Kaling

Last week, The New York Times ran an article called “Female Stars Step Off The Scale” about how women who are not Hollywood skinny are increasingly being allowed to play roles other than “the fat, funny best friend” in movies and TV shows. SOUND THE ALARMS! Some people think the women profiled in the article (mainly Mindy Kaling and Lena Dunham) are not fat enough for it to constitute progress, while others think writers are still placing too much emphasis on fat women’s bodies plotwise, despite the wider range of roles that are now available to “overweight” women. (I’m including women who are overweight by Hollywood standards, as well as women who are actually fat here.) But what do the people who comment on New York Times articles think?

Well, as it turns out, many of them think that allowing non-skinny women to play human beings instead of walking stereotypes is contributing to the widespread idea that being obese is cool, sexy, and great for your health! Read on for some serious concern trolling, plus a few comments that give me faith in humanity. More »