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The Daily Mail has been quick to point out that, nine years after gastric bypass surgery, Star Jones is ‘sporting a fuller figure,’ shaming the former View co-host by speculating on her diet and weight. Their article contains zero quotes from Jones about her weight or health, instead citing rumor and photos to speculate that she’s put on 37 pounds—which honestly seems like a stretch given that their supposed before and after photos look nearly the same. But the biggest fail of their article is really just that they’re using her former struggles with health and weight as an excuse to shame her for letting her weight fluctuate.
The article quotes an unnamed friend of Jones’ who told the National Enquirer that she’s emotionally eating because of relationship troubles. The quotes are cruel and baseless (the “friend” reports that Jones is eating over 5,000 calories per day; unless the friend is watching over her 24 hours a day, this seems like a pretty far stretch), but what gets me about the Mail’s article is how much they put her down for not looking thin, and not seeming unhappy about it:
She famously went through a gastric bypass surgery back in 2003 in a last ditch attempt to shed some pounds. But yesterday, TV personality and former View co-host Star Jones seemed to be sporting a fuller figure as she arrived at a New York Super Bowl party. The 49-year-old wore a bright blue clinging wrap dress which showed off her curvy frame to the maximum…The smiling Star didn’t look too concerned at the media rumours she has piled on the pounds in recent months.
I’m sorry, but all of the implications about how Jones should be thin (because of gastric bypass surgery) and ashamed (because she’s not thin) are just gross.
No matter someone’s body history, their weight is allowed to fluctuate. Jones isn’t obese, and she isn’t publicly discussing any concern for her size or health. She may look a little heavier than she did a few months ago, but you know what ? So do I. And it’s not because I’ve let my health go, or I’m going through an emotionally difficult time. Weight fluctuation is normal and even healthy to some degree. And Jones just doesn’t seem to me like she’s on the brink of becoming obese again or putting her health at risk. And, given that she’s been proactive about managing her weight in the past, I somehow doubt we all need to stay up at night worrying that she’ll find help if she needs it.
In the meantime, articles like this that shame her for her weight are just a massive fail.
Photo: Daily Mail
