By now, just about everyone has heard about the “Dear Fat People” video from YouTube personality Nicole Arbour, but if not, here’s the lowdown!
Nicole Arbour, a Canadian comedian best known for her content on YouTube, uploaded a video earlier this month titled “Dear Fat People” on her YouTube channel and supporting social media platforms. Due to much uproar, criticism, and debate, YouTube suspended Nicole’s channel and as well as other videos. Nicole then took to Twitter claiming to have been censored for her comedy. Since no guidelines were technically broken, her channel was reinstated. However, the damage was already done as “Dear Fat People” was already receiving a huge amount of backlash for it’s attempt at satire. Of course, many were against the content of the video, calling it rude, tasteless, inconsiderate, calling Nicole a “second-rate Jenna Marbles,” and the list of complaints go on and on. Many people were also on Nicole’s side, concluding that “fat people” shouldn’t be so sensitive, fat shaming isn’t real, it was all comedy, and much more.
Among the reactions was a response video from Whitney Way Thore (from My Big, Fat, Fabulous Life on TLC) where she discussed the effects of body shaming and not knowing a person’s health situation just by looking at them. Grace Helbig, another popular YouTube personality, was also among those that spoke out in reference to Nicole’s video. Not necessarily taking a side on the matter, she expressed how “we’re all just trying to get by…doing life as best as we can.” She concludes that life is a series of seeminly [un]controllable events on top of one another that everyone is trying to make the best of.
Whitney Way Thore
Grace Helbig
Aside from all of the debate and back and forth, body shaming is a real issue, and not one that somebody just made up. Whether or not someone has a sense of humor, all of that goes out of the window when such harsh, extreme comments and generalizations are made concerning issues among individuals whose situations differ dramatically. A video like this could send the wrong message to people dealing with their own body image and could result in lowered self-esteem, more health-threatening issues, and suicides. There are definitely harsh realities concerning physical health that need to be addressed, but it’s all about how the message is delivered. Yes, there are people who are extremely sensitive and not receptive to harsh realities. Yes, something should definitely be done to combat childhood obesity and obesity at large. Yes, there is definitely a place for sarcasm and satire and inappropriate humor. Yes, there is literally an endless list of things we can joke about. Jokes, however, can be taken too far and are taken out of context everyday; there is a fine line between the safe zone and overstepping boundaries. It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt, as they say.
How do you feel about Nicole Arbour’s “Dear Fat People” video? Sound off in the comments, and tell us your stance on body shaming, health issues, and more!