Entertainment World News of Friday, 20 July 2018

Source: BBC.com

Netflix's Insatiable faces backlash over 'fat-shaming'

Netflix's trailer for its new series, Insatiable, is facing a backlash across social media for its apparent "fat-shaming" plot.

The series stars Debby Ryan as Patty, a high school teen who has been bullied because of her weight.

But some viewers have criticised for the way it appears to tackle the issue.

Ryan wears a fat suit for the role, while her classmates are seen calling her "fatty Patty" and making jokes about her in the trailer.

"Don't watch shows where people wear fat suits. Don't watch shows where they try to turn fat phobia and hatred into a joke," one viewer tweeted.

The plot sees Patty spend her summer with her jaw wired shut after being punched in the face during a fight, and loses weight as a result.

She returns to school after a dramatic physical change, with her fellow pupils shocked at her appearance.

She then sets out to prove wrong everyone who underestimated her when she was larger.

The show Insatiable on @netflix looks like a piece of utter trash. Don't watch shows where people wear fat suits. Don't watch shows where they try to turn fat phobia and hatred into a joke.

— A.L. (@FatBodyPolitics) July 19, 2018

This is trash. Netflix I expected a company that’s prided itself on changing the faces in entertainment and inclusivity to be better to fat people. This story like is uncreative and fatphobic. It’s also incredibly insulting to attempt to tell an story of a fat women with a thin

— Savannah? (@GirlcraftWorld) July 19, 2018

Patty is joined by Bob Armstrong (played by Dallas Roberts), a disgraced lawyer turned beauty pageant coach who takes on the teen to be the next queen.

Bob's social-climbing wife is being played by Alyssa Milano, well known for playing Pheobe Halliwell in Charmed.

She has already defended her role in the project:

We are not shaming Patty. We are addressing (through comedy) the damage that occurs from fat shaming. I hope that clears it up. Also, this article does a good job of explaining it more: https://t.co/WoR8R7TjqR #Insatiable https://t.co/GFkDdsn1uh

— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) July 19, 2018

Lauren Gussis, who wrote and executive produced the show said the show was based off her own experiences growing up.

She told Teen Vogue that Patty the demon of her "inner formerly bullied teenager".

"I really felt like it was important to look at [bullying] head on and talk about it," she explained