As you probably heard, Brendan Fraser won the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in “The Whale,” in which he plays a 600 lb. recluse. Fraser didn’t actually pack on all those pounds for the role: it was prosthetics and makeup. We’ve already had a fight over voice actors playing people of different races: Hank Azaria will no longer voice Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on “The Simpsons,” and Mike Henry stepped down from his role playing Cleveland Brown on “Family Guy.” And don’t forget the hubbub that forced Scarlett Johansson to ditch a movie in which she would have played a trans man.
But Fraser’s win raises some uncomfortable questions, like why didn’t they find a 600 lb. actor to play the role?
So disappointing that The Whale won the Oscar for best hair and makeup. Fat suits are harmful – they are not your opportunity to win awards. Our identity is not your costume. Cast fat actors to play fat characters. #TheWhale #fatphobia #fatsuit #Oscars
— KB Heylen 💛🤍💜🖤 (@KBHeylen) March 13, 2023
“Our identity is not your costume.” It’s pretty sad if being fat is your “identity.”
They cast the best person/actor for the role…sometimes they’re not always the right size so they use prosthetics. I’m sure they did see larger people at auditions, they just weren’t as good, you can’t hire the wrong actor just because they fit the physical part.
— Samantha (@SSDigital16) March 13, 2023
That’s what they used to say about putting white actors in blackface 🤷♀️
— KB Heylen 💛🤍💜🖤 (@KBHeylen) March 13, 2023
Yes, it’s just like blackface.
So you want people to win because of their identity and not their acting ability. Got it.
— Brandon Morse (@TheBrandonMorse) March 14, 2023
Where is the dislike button when you need it lol. Such a toxic mindset.
— Michael Secret📱🏴☠️ (@MichaelSecretYT) March 14, 2023
No, being that overweight is harmful. Makeup gave us a chance to walk in the man's shoes without putting the actor at risk. It's what actors do.
— Jesse V Coffey, #Author and #Reviewer (@JesseVCoffey) March 14, 2023
Yeah, an cast actual T-Rex and Raptors to play in Jurassic Park. #Dinophobia
— Leonardo D'Espósito (@despoleo) March 14, 2023
Who would you recommend, out of interest?
— 4mulaHammer (@4mulawun) March 14, 2023
Obesity is actually harmful
— BlewideScorpio (@Blewidescorpio) March 14, 2023
They tried, but due to health issues of a person being 600 pounds, they couldn’t cast someone, because, you know, being obese creates massive health problems. https://t.co/rdsqnA2Gca
— gbow (@G_Bow13) March 13, 2023
“Actors shouldn’t act because I think being a fatty is my entire identity” isn’t something you’re supposed to say in public.
— Vonster (@__RiseAgain__) March 14, 2023
Fat suits are harmful but being fat isn’t?
— nickmilnerphoto (@NickMilnerPhoto) March 14, 2023
If they cast somebody the size needed for the story, the movie would not have been made. The story deserved to be told. As a heavy set fella, this is a bad take. Do not speak for all of “us” please.
— WrestlingIsFUN (@FunWrestling1) March 14, 2023
As a 6’3” human I would like to add that heels/lifts also need to go! They’re appropriating tall culture and I will not stand for it!
— dan•splaining (@DANsplained0) March 14, 2023
Someone that weighs 600 lbs would really struggle with the insanely rigorous demands of filming.
— Liddle' Dev Nunes Conscience 🐄 (@DevsBee) March 14, 2023
They tried! Unfortunately they all died from being morbidly obese
— TexMachina (@TexMachina) March 14, 2023
If you want real fat people, there are plenty of shows on cable TV about people who are morbidly obese. Maybe one of them could win a Daytime Emmy or something.
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Related:
Inspired by Hank Azaria’s apology ‘to every single Indian person in this country’ for voicing Apu, John Cleese extends an apology of his own https://t.co/iDEdxyVww0
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 14, 2021
