Over 100,000 people sign a petition to cancel ‘fat-shaming’ Netflix show

Image via Netflix
Words by Veronica Stanford

Insatiable is due for release August 11.

A change.org petition to stop the release of new Netflix series Insatiable has reached 126k signatures. And it’s very easy to see why the internet is so upset.

The new release centres around the character “Fatty Patty”, a victim of body-shaming who enacts revenge on her bullies after she’s lost weight. What’s more, is Patty is played by an actress in a prosthetic fat suit. Understandably, people aren’t happy about it.

Hey @netflix, since it looks like you forgot how to make content like decent human beings, here’s a list of Bad Ideas.
-thin actresses in fat suits
-character losing weight so people like/are attracted to them
-the above working
-making fatphobic crap at all. #Insatiable

— Quabity Assuance (@adamdriveme) July 20, 2018

Can the “fat girl gets skinny, gets revenge” trope die already? #Insatiable https://t.co/1E3LDmg0s4 pic.twitter.com/WiuWYkmrBr

— The Mary Sue (@TheMarySue) July 19, 2018

“The toxicity of this series, is bigger than just this one particular series,” reads the petition, which was started earlier this week. “This is not an isolated case, but part of a much larger problem that I can promise you every single woman has faced in her life, sitting somewhere on the scale of valuing their worth on their bodies, to be desirable objects for the male gaze. That is exactly what this series does. It perpetuates not only the toxicity of diet culture, but the objectification of women’s bodies.”

The show’s writer, Lauren Gussis, has responded to the criticism, stating the story references her own experiences.

This is my truth. @insatiable_ pic.twitter.com/xbs3YtueCQ

— Lauren Gussis (@GussisLauren) July 21, 2018

Charmed actor, Alyssa Milano – who also stars in the show – has also responded to criticism with a 30-minute video asking viewers to give the show a chance.