I'm going to start this out by saying that Nicole Arbour, just like everyone else in the world, is entitled to her opinion.
I'm not one of those people who are offended easily, and this time is no different than any other occurrence featuring people who speak out against fat people. I watched the "Dear Fat People," video and the entire time, I found myself with a straight face waiting for a fat joke that I haven't heard before. There were no new jokes. None.
What was expected more than the over-used jokes was the outrage the video caused all over social media. Within 24 hours, there were response videos and people crying about it. And I'm not unsympathetic. I completely understand why people were upset. However, as I said first and foremost: She is entitled to her opinion.
For years, people were saying that "real women have curves," and "men like meat, dogs like bones," etc etc. All of these phrases were essentially "skinny shaming." Now that the body positive community has erupted all over social media, it seems as if ANYONE who talks bad about fat people are to be shamed in return and to be criticized and attacked for their view. If we're supposed to "love everyone," and project such love and positivity around the world, why is Nicole Arbour being hated on so harshly?
I personally believe that the views that Nicole Arbour expressed weren't even her own. I believe that she made a video bashing the most popular movement on social media right now because she knew it would get her attention. She knew that a video with that kind of content would garner her millions of views, get people talking about her and that's exactly what she got. Within 24 hours, everyone knew who she was. Everyone knew her name.
The fact that everyone is even responding to her is laughable. What do you think will happen? That her channel will get shut down? Well, it did, but CNN got it back less than 2 days later so what does the crying actually do other than bring her more attention? Nothing. It does nothing.
And I'm not saying all of this because I support her claims. I'm a fat girl, I've always been rather large and I'm trying to change my habits in order to get healthier. I was bullied in school, I have been called the most foul of names due to my weight, but did it harm me in the long run? No, because people who call me names on the internet are just people on the internet! If you can't handle the opinions of others, then you shouldn't use the internet! I just don't understand why people who have no stake in your daily, offline life affect you so much. It's not like you're seeing these people all the time. It's not like you go to the same coffee shop as Nicole Arbour so what does it matter what she thinks? She hates fat people. So what? I thought the whole Body Positive movement was supposed to mean loving your body despite what others think, not "fight everyone who has a different viewpoint."
Nicole Arbour is a blunt, rather unfunny comedian who you can easily avoid by not following her on Youtube/Facebook/Twitter/Instagram. If you want to have an impact, then live your life and show people like Nicole Arbour that they are wrong. Show them that fat people are not just lazy stereotypes and I promise, you'll have an easier time on social media. Exude happiness and love for the ignorant and let go of the viewpoints you don't agree with. Life is too short to spend arguing with people who don't matter.
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