Heidi Klum sparks controversy - Kathy Najimy fires back

JazmenFlowers · #1 08-25-2006, 10:20 PM

looks like we weren't the only ones who noticed the judges' comments were a little

inducing. here's what Kathy wrote to the producers of the show.
__________________________________________

Dearest Andy eye candy,

Hi Honey. I hope you are well. Congratulations on Project Runway -- I think it is by far the best reality show on TV. Smart, filmed so realistically like a true documentary, well produced, compelling, well done -- in fact I could watch an all-Project-Runway-all-day channel.

Sadly after last night's episode, I probably won't watch it again. Yes, I am one of the throngs who will miss sweet gorgeous talented Alison and her creations ... BUT, that is NOT why i am upset. Tonight I was aghast at the comments made about her model's size.

First, Tim Gunn refers to her as "zaftig" Zaftig? She is a MODEL -- 6 feet tall and probably all of 120 pounds! Zaftig? What does this say to the really average sized women?? And then, Heidi Klum, although she seems like a perfectly fine model and mother -- made some very very irresponsible comments, a couple of offensive remarks about her size. She referred to the outfit as making the model look like a GOD FORBID -- "Plus SIZE model!" -- like that was the ultimate in HORRORS... it was all she could do to contain herself from gagging. OK maybe the outfit wasn't great but Heidi's comments were hurtful and dangerous. Good thing Mr. Kors had the good sense to chime in and call the model "a beautiful girl."

Andy, the reason Heidi's comments were dangerous is that we all know what a powerful tool television has become on influencing the masses. I am sure hundreds of thousands of women and girls watch your program. And probably a very monumental amount of them, as a result of the messages we send women and girls in this country that are made to hate their bodies. They are either unhealthily trying to fit into some NARROW minded idea of what they are "supposed to look like," actually in the midst of dangerous eating disorders, or are, hopefully, some of the very lucky few in process of overcoming the avalanche of hideous pressure to be one unattainable size.

Please sincerely tell Ms. Klum this fact: six out of ten 11-year-old girls are on a diet or have an eating disorder. That's 11-year-old girls. Many of them die from the quest. Many grown women also die from these disorders every year. If you have seen it, it is a profoundly sad self loss. And this is not an organic occurrence. This is not bad gene we are born with. This is a result of the constant gnawing at women and girls that they are NOT right as they are. This is taught. This is drilled. This comes from shame. That they are too fat, or too wrinkled or too round or maybe they are beyond terrorized that they just might look like a... PLUS SIZE MODEL. The truth is that most women in the country are a size 14. A nice beautiful size 14 or 16 -- or more. Which I guess Ms. Klum would categorize as OBESE. She is lucky she has good genes... good for her. I hope she got there without hurting herself in any way like most women do. I hope she has the self-esteem most women in America are lacking. And I especially hope that Heidi Klum's beautiful daughter never has to grow up in the self-hatred and self-mutilation that occurs when girls and women are suffocated by irresponsible, dangerous comments like the ones Heidi made last night on the program.

I understand that this is a reality TV show and people can say what they want, but I was disappointed that Bravo or the producers didn't opt to edit her comments. Please pass this on. I think it is important. I know this has nothing to do with you. I just have your email address and not hers!

Much love to you Andrew...
Yours,
Kathy "plus size brains" Najimy

DrummerDeanna · #2 08-25-2006, 10:49 PM

She's going on my hero list! SO TRUE! I don't watch that show, so I'd not heard the remark - and after reading this I will never watch the show.

These things are very destructive - I just saw an Oprah featuring a 4 and 6 year old girl - both of them completely and totally obsessed about their weight - it was the saddest thing

carrie721 · #3 08-25-2006, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

She's going on my hero list! SO TRUE! I don't watch that show, so I'd not heard the remark - and after reading this I will never watch the show.

These things are very destructive - I just saw an Oprah featuring a 4 and 6 year old girl - both of them completely and totally obsessed about their weight - it was the saddest thing

holy ****, 4 and 6 years old?

JazmenFlowers · #4 08-25-2006, 10:52 PM

well there's no way I ain't watching it.

I think Heidi needs to clarify what she meant or apologize just to save face, although there's no good way to put it. it's just a world of wrong, but I don't think she meant it in a hurtful way. I think Bravo should have edited the comments out.

what if someone had said...that makes her look black or asian? you know.

amber · #5 08-25-2006, 10:52 PM

People shouldn't let their kids watch so much TV. A bit snarky of Heidi.

Being a model, she probably really thinks in those terms. To her for her career, gaining weight was a reallly bad thing. She doesn't really have the same perspective as an average woman would. They probably should have edited it, I guess. Meh.

DrummerDeanna · #6 08-25-2006, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carrie721

holy ****, 4 and 6 years old?

Yeah - it was awful. They were these beautiful little girls - not even the slightest bit chubby (though chub - NOT obsesity-but chub is good on a kid) - and both thought they were SO fat. Of course their mothers were ripped a new one by doctors, oprah and experts....

carrie721 · #7 08-25-2006, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Yeah - it was awful. They were these beautiful little girls - not even the slightest bit chubby (though chub - NOT obsesity-but chub is good on a kid) - and both thought they were SO fat. Of course their mothers were ripped a new one by doctors, oprah and experts....

were the mothers telling them they were fat?

DrummerDeanna · #8 08-25-2006, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carrie721

were the mothers telling them they were fat?

Not in so many words...but the things they let the kids do - dieting and such - and well ...I was only half listening when the mothers hit - since I was at work (I love my job) but once in a while a "real-life" vignette would come on - showing a kid on a playground "exercising" to exhaustion because she thought she was fat.

Now - I remember being 7 and telling my mom how fat I was - she freaked out - then took me to my aunt (health-nut and ex-anorexic) who assured me I wasn't fat - but I never believed it....so comments like that - that a kid or hell even an adult will hear can be hurtful -and subconciously a lot of people would pick up on that and take it on...

Too bad we're not one of those cultures where fat=good because it means you're wealthy and healthy

diamondsnake · #9 08-25-2006, 11:47 PM

I think Kathy is blowing it out of proportion. The model was clearly not plus size, but the outfit made her look that way. What is the point of wearing an outfit with so much fabric that it makes you look 30 pounds heavier? It doesn't matter if you are 120 pounds or 220 pounds, no one really wants to wear something that makes them look heavier. If you watched the show, I think that was the point Heidi was trying to make. I just hope the model didn't take it personally.

And, Heidi was on Larry King Live tonight and she tried to clear things up. She said that people shouldnot be offended by the term plus-size, etc. because it is a real thing, not a derrogatory term.

Gypsy-Rhiannon · #10 08-26-2006, 04:11 AM

What size out there do you class as a 'plus size model'?

Excellent letter BTW

PsychCat · #11 08-26-2006, 06:29 AM

I love me some Kathy Najimy...
although she should have gone full "Peggy Hill" in that letter!!

strandinthewind · #12 08-26-2006, 07:31 AM

Interesting letter. I do think, however, most people want it both ways. I remember when Carnie Wilson had her stomach stapeled on the net. Prior to that, she was all about how plus size people are happy, she was not sick, etc. Then, she drops the weight and she is all about how unhappy she was and it is fabulous to be thin. Moreover, how many times have we looked at a magazine and drolled over the sexy model, all of which are so called under weight or at least no plus sized. What a sad commentary on society IMO.

GODDESS6 · #13 08-26-2006, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Interesting letter. I do think, however, most people want it both ways. I remember when Carnie Wilson had her stomach stapeled on the net. Prior to that, she was all about how plus size people are happy, she was not sick, etc. Then, she drops the weight and she is all about how unhappy she was and it is fabulous to be thin. Moreover, how many times have we looked at a magazine and drolled over the sexy model, all of which are so called under weight or at least no plus sized. What a sad commentary on society IMO.

& now carnie is on celebrity fit club this season isn't she?, cuz after child birth she gained weight again~

i used to watch a 5 yr old girl who was beginning to be bulemic~ she wasn't over-weight by any means, she looked like any average size child, she has an older sister who had a different father that is very tall & lanky, so her sister had the same traits, she was also very tall & lanky~ the older sister is 7~ so the 5 yr old began starving herself & when forced to eat would go throw it all up~ then you would see her binging & trying to go purge~ i mean my god she was 5 yr's old~ i asked her mother to no avail, but it always really bothered me as to where this 5 yr old would know how binge & purge already~ it was so very sad~