Did Sarah Paulson Just Start A Movement To Keep Fat Suits Out of Movies?

A couple of days ago we reported that Sarah Paulson had regretted wearing a fat suit to play the late Linda Tripp in the FX series upcoming series “Impeachment." Paulson mentioned that she would not be making the same choice moving forward. Of course, if she’s offered a chance to play a character that would require this type of characterization. Paulson also acknowledged that fatphobia in Hollywood is real! When it comes to particularly female actors that’s probably a statement that’s been true for years. Now activists are getting on board with the cause and want fat suits out of movies! 

Ben Record, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Abby Rose Morris, an NYC based on-stage actor and voiceover pro who hosts the podcast “More Than Tracy Turnblad,” precisely about, “fat representation in the arts!”, (her description not ours), commented on the Sarah Paulson decision, to not wear a fat suit moving forward. She believes the usage of these, limits the number of roles that not perfectly chiseled actors have. 

“When we’re shut out of the roles intended to be fat the message is that fat actor don’t deserve to be seen.”      

https://twitter.com/natashamitchell/status/1432199724229038086

In a recent interview with NY Post, Rose Morris talked about the impact that she hopes Paulson’s decision and comments are going to have on heftier actors. Saying, 

“While I can definitely see more situations like Paulson’s in the future, I hope that with more activism from fat folks in entertainment and the fat activist community at large … fat actors will be given more roles,” 

She also added that Paulson’s comments maybe don’t have the pull to make a major change. Yet, she remains optimistic. Certainly, if more actors hope on board the trend something could happen. 

@IronicallyBravo/Twitter

Today, Abby Rose Morris has become a bit of the poster child for the movement. Of course, she’s done a lot for the cause just because she’s one of the potentially few people who have launched a podcast on the topic. That being said, this was actually an issue that saw the light of day back in 2002. When writer Marisa Meltzer, wrote about how fat suits were, the new blackface. At the time black face wasn’t even as frowned upon as it is today. In fact, around those days Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was doing black face in plays. Something that he would have to apologize for later on.

We are certainly not trying to take sides here, but the biggest problem that people like Abby Rose Morris deal with is the fact that “fat suits” have worked for studios in the past. Even Sarah Paulson who was ashamed of her role ultimately picked up the cash. Other roles in a fat suit have been worthy of an Oscar. Such is the case of Gary Oldman’s role as Winston Churchill in, “Darkest Hour”. Christian Bale has had many roles where he maybe didn’t wear anything, but he shed or gained weight. Mark Whalberg just went through a similar issue. The struggles that people like Abby Rose Morris are real. They are just not getting enough light.