Brea Jones/Staff Writer
On Thursday, July 19, Netflix released a trailer for its new comedy series “Insatiable,” which stars former Disney actress Debby Ryan. Although“ Insatiable” has not been released, its trailer has caused a major uproar and backlash.
The series will follow the life of Patty, played by Ryan, who is bullied for being overweight. After Patty is punched in the face, she gets her jaw wired shut and returns to her school as a “hottie” to take revenge on those who bullied her.
Many people claim the show pressures young girls and women to change their appearance in order to gain acceptance from their peers. Some are also offended that Ryan wears a “fat suit” in the series to appear overweight, referring it as “fatphobic behavior.”
There are various reasons as to why fatphobic behavior, like fat shaming, should not be encouraged or portrayed positively by today’s media.
For those of you who don’t know, fat shaming is when you humiliate or mock someone for being overweight and it is more common than what some may believe. It’s a persistent problem as over 94% of teenage girls have been body shamed at least once, according to Proud 2B Me.
Fat shaming can also raise the health risk of the victim. It has been proven that women who are fat shamed are at a greater risk for heart disease and diabetes, according to CNN Health.
Not only does fat shaming cause greater health risks, it can also lead to low self-esteem and depression, according to the research journal “Obesity.” The constant negativity causes the victim to feel bad about who they are, leading to self-doubt and other mental health issues.
Ryan has since responded to the backlash by saying “Insatiable” is not “in the business of fat shaming,” claiming the series is supposed to be satire.
While the intention may be pure, this show will have a great negative impact on younger children, who are likely learning how to be comfortable in the skin they are in.
Seeing these types of media representations forces unrealistic perceptions about their own bodies.They may miss the intentional satire if it’s not blatantly obvious.
There is now a petition to cancel the release of “Insatiable” because of its body shaming content. The petition has gathered more than 120,000 signatures in five days.
Hearing this makes me glad that many people acknowledge how this show does not seem like a good idea. It’s also refreshing to see that this type of content will no longer be tolerated for much longer in our society.
In the end, I hope Ryan’s claims are true and the show ends up having a surprising morale to it.
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The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.
Photo retrieved from Insatiable Official Facebook.
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