Fat Jokes: Are They Funny?

I never expected to find myself so firmly in the Jessica Simpson camp, but here I am, burning to dig out my Rollergirl uniform, gather my other tough girls around me, and go bust some heads to defend her honor. Read on and please, join me in my outrage.

That’s Fit ran a story yesterday about a recent NFL Sunday cartoon that mocks Jessica Simpson’s weight. Here’s the offending cartoon:

Let’s get real here, people. The girl wears, like, a size 6. There is no universe in which she is fat. Not even when she wore this hideous outfit:

Sure, the jeans are terrible. The belt is bad. The overall effect is stumpify-ing, and it was a definite fashion misstep. But in no way is this a Big Girl. Need more proof? Here are all of Jessica’s Google images. Sure, she goes up and down a bit like ALL REAL WOMEN DO, but again: not a Big Girl.

And even if she was a Big Girl, would she deserve to be mocked on national television – by mean-spirited knuckleheads – for carrying around a little extra weight?

According to the American Obesity Assocation, 62% of American men are overweight and 28.7% of them are obese. Let’s seem them strut across a stage (in high heels while singing) or walk the red carpet (while every set of eyeballs assesses their suitability)!

Do you think Jessica is tough enough to turn a deaf ear to these “jokes” that aired on national TV:

“Man, I still can’t believe Tony [Romo] dated Jessica Simpson even after she blew up bigger than Flozell Adams!”

“Unlike Tony, at least Jessica comes up big when it counts!”

“Is Jessica around? We could use a defensive tackle!”

Predictably, Burger King and Fox, in CYA fashion, offered carefully scripted, hollow apologies when the damage had already been done:

From Burger King: “Burger King, Corp. has a long-standing relationship with Fox Sports, as well as an extensive media partnership with the network. The specific content for this sketch involving Jessica Simpson was not developed or aired by BKC or any of its agencies.”

From Fox: “Burger King Corp. did not have any editorial input in the creation of the animation that ran last Sunday, and no one from Burger King Corp. approved it before it aired. Upon reflection, our poor attempt at humor was insensitive and we deeply apologize to anyone who might have been offended.”

Really Fox? You “deeply apologize to anyone who might have been offended?” Will you apologize directly to one girl who was the butt of your stupid joke? How will you make her forget this experience?

And while I’m asking outraged questions… What was the thinking that produced this skit? Why would anyone deem it OK? Because she’s a girl? Because she’s famous? Because you think she’s “fat”?

As a former Big Girl myself, I can attest that fat jokes and cruel comments directed at me more than two decades ago still ring in my ears sometimes. Yes, Jessica Simpson is (in)famous, rich, and potentially out of touch with real life the way the rest of us understand it.

But isn’t she still just a girl, trying to wear a cute outfit, feel good about herself, and be a success?