Okay guys, on the count of three, let’s all take a deep breath. Ready? One, two, three. Better? Good. Now we can all relax about Jessica Simpson’s love handles for a little bit.
It’s not that we here at Scandalist are put off by media frenzies, after all that’s what we do. But the discussion surrounding Jess’ slight weight gain - enhanced by a few unflattering outfits - has gotten so excessive, redundant, and just straight up cruel, that we’re calling for an end to the obsession.
The above NY Post cartoon is only a small part of the problem. We’re not sure if the illustrator is attempting thoughtful societal criticism or straight up misogynist humor (we’d guess the latter), but either way, it’s symptomatic of the problem at hand. It’s a lot easier to escape in the folds of Jess’s “fat” than it is to actually address the real crises we’re facing as a nation. And now everyone - from Today Show hosts to fellow stars - want in on the fun.
Hollywood stars - many of whom diet and exercise themselves into mounds of bone and muscle - are now giving the press the usual “You go girl!” comments in Jess’ favor, and her sister ranted about the weight drama on MySpace while then discussing her post-baby weight-loss plan with OK! magazine. The message - it’s totally fine to be fat, as long as it’s not me!
In her concert last night, Jess told the crowd that “I feel like in our world, we focus on so many things that are unimportant.”
The “fat lady” has sung, ya’ll. Belly-Gate is officially over.
[Photo: Splash News Online]
January 30th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
I AM STARTING TO HATE THE MEDIA FOR TALKING SO MUCH S*IT ON JESSICA! SHE LOOKS GOOD TO ME!
January 30th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
I find it funny how every one is talking about Lindsay Lohan being too thin, and yet Jessica Simpson is too fat? It’s called looking healthy, and Jessica does. The way the media is so nit-picky about weight is disgusting, this is what turns women anorexic and bulimic, the fact that they feel they’ll never live up to ridiculous standards of what the media calls ‘beauty.’
If Jessica Simpson is ‘fat’, then I guess I’d be considered morbidly obese, and I’m not much bigger than her myself. :\
January 30th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
ok great media……way to create a eating disorder for the poor girl. There needs to be more women out there fighting back against all the haters (i.e. gay men designers and the gossip people that are so insecure with their own selves.)
She looks just as beautiful as she always has.
January 31st, 2009 at 12:12 am
I think the nation has far more bigger problems now to worry about Jessica Simpson wherever she is too “fat” or too slim. The girl is alright. Let’s solve our economy problem, now that’s a real problem with so many people losing their jobs.
February 5th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I find it very sad and pathetic how everyone is so obsessed with celebrity weight gain. I’ve never understood why it’s any business of anyone besides the individual being talked about. Maybe these tabloid writers need to take a good look in the mirror themselves… I’m not sure what mirror they are looking into but surely it must have a narcissistic reflection, thats the only way I could see them being ok with what they do to people…. But I guess when your profession revolves around corrupting other peoples lives we really shouldn’t expect much more. I don’t know how some people live with themselves, it’s no wonder the population of young girls perspectives are completely distorted!!!!
February 5th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
I dont like jessica…but i think that they should leave her alone…for real…just because she aint a freaking size 0 anymore…well geez the only people who are are anerexic…LEAVE THE NORMAL LOOKING GIRLS ALONE!
February 6th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
i think she look very nice and sexy because shes not big she just sexy
February 8th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Jessica looks great and healthy. If I could only look so “fat”!!!! The NY Post should be ashamed of themselves for their ridiculous cartoon. This is what real women look like.
February 8th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
That’s so mean. It’s so sad how in Hollywood makes a big deal out of 10 pounds or so. She looks fine. Either someone is too skinny or too fat. No one can be “normal.” Wait, normal is being 5 foot 8 inches and weighing 100 pounds. She’s normal…be happy for that…don’t pressure her to be 100 pounds, at a size 0-2 again…the media is ridiculous…period!
February 9th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
I find it completely disrespectful what they are doing to Jessica. When I heard the news, out of curiosity I had to see her picture. I was trying to see what the fuzz was all about and I really did not see it. I mean, she did gain some weight but the way they are talking it’s like if she had gained 2 or 3 hundred pounds. I remember back in my days. (70’s) when weight was not even an issue. Celebrities were praised for their real talent. Today, it’s about looks, not real talent.
February 11th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
THIS IS Y EVERY GIRL ACROSS AMERICA IS STARVE THEM SELFS. EVERYONE IN THE WORLD FLUCTUATES IN THEIR WEIGHT AND STRUGGLES WITH IT!!!! IF I GAINED 10-20 POUNDS I WOULDN’T B IN THE MAGAZINES BEING CALLED A FAT +$`)!)`)+(+&$+( ITS ONLY BECAUSE SHE IS A CELEBRITY. I’M NOT A FAN OF JESSICA SIMPSON BUT I HAVE 2 SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT IS SOOOOOOO STUPID AND DOESN’T DESERVE ANY ATTENTION. WHEN JESSICA WANTS 2 LOSE WEIGHT THEN SHE WILL!!!! HER CHOICE!!! LET THE GIRL LIVE A LITTLE!!! KEEP EATING WHAT U WANT JESSICA. DANG!!!
February 11th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
OH I 4GOT 2 MENTION JESSICA ISN’T EVEN FAT!!!!
February 14th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
wow, so she’s normal now. where are the pictures of the 80 percent of people her age that actually weigh more then her?
February 15th, 2009 at 11:07 am
I don’t like her at all, but she’s not even fat! She’s a healthy young woman. If she is fat imagine what gossip sites and magazines would say about average day people. And this is giving girls advice to be stick thin, because if they don’t wear a size 00, they’re considered fat!
February 15th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Well she has put on a lot of weight. I hope NICK is having a good laugh at her. The way she treated him.
January 25th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
If she is getting millions for her job, she should do her job, part of being an entertainer is looking good, she doesnt look over weight but she doesnt have the kind of body I would want, and considering she is paid to look good she should probably workout, or go get a normal job with a normal salary and no one will care if shes fat or skinny, some people let their emotions get so heated when theyre not involved in the situation at all, lol makes me laugh