Please be gentle with me. Regarding Tyra Banks...

[Tina]

My sweetheart, Biggie, sent me a link to Tyra Banks' response on her show to being called "fat." It kind of mobilized me to make a video response. I've never done this before, and being naturally shy, I might not be the best candidate for it, but I had something to say. For some reason, it doesn't show up on her page as a video response yet. Maybe it takes some time, duuno, but for those of you who are interested, it's here.

I also put it in my Zoint's profile.

[vaio]

Originally Posted by Tina

My sweetheart, Biggie, sent me a link to Tyra Banks' response on her show to being called "fat." It kind of mobilized me to make a video response. I've never done this before, and being naturally shy, I might not be the best candidate for it, but I had something to say. For some reason, it doesn't show up on her page as a video response yet. Maybe it takes some time, duuno, but for those of you who are interested, it's here.

I also put it in my Zoint's profile.

Great video. I did think Tyra's emotional response to being called fat was over done. I think you pointed that out in a direct, yet sensitive manner.

[Fairia]

I think if I did a commentary on camera, I would probably have that same onscreen presense with just being myself and saying what I feel is natural and what I believe. And it was also good to hear your voice on tape and see yourself too.

[stan_der_man]

Nicely articulated video Tina! You came across very well, I think you are the perfect spokesperson for this response.

I completely agree with you. I appreciate Tyra's support of fat as being beautiful, but it perpetuates the distortion of what "fat" is when she is calling herself fat and setting herself up an illustration of what fat is. Tyra is easily in a position where she can sponser a fat model as a better example.


Stan

[Tina]

Originally Posted by vaio

Great video. I did think Tyra's emotional response to being called fat was over done. I think you pointed that out in a direct, yet sensitive manner.

Thank you for that, vaio. Much appreciated.

Originally Posted by Fairia

I think if I did a commentary on camera, I would probably have that same onscreen presense with just being myself and saying what I feel is natural and what I believe. And it was also good to hear your voice on tape and see yourself too.

Fairia, thank you. Love your sig quote. Just saw that movie, again, two nights ago.

Originally Posted by fa_man_stan

Nicely articulated video Tina! You came across very well, I think you are the perfect spokesperson for this response.

Thank you! It would have been nice to have felt more natural in front of a camera, but I felt compelled to say what I did, for better or worse.

I completely agree with you. I appreciate Tyra's support of fat as being beautiful, but it perpetuates the distortion of what "fat" is when she is calling herself fat and setting herself up an illustration of what fat is. Tyra is easily in a position where she can sponser a fat model as a better example.

I so agree, Stan. Wonderful idea, too. I'd love to see that.

Heh. You threw me off with your Mashley avatar.

[kr7]

Tina,

I thought your video was well thought out, and well presented. I agree that Tyra is a nice girl, and I think that her heart is in the right place on many issues, but as you said, making gross overstatements (even when well meant) does not really contribute to a cause.

Chris

[BBW Betty]

Tina, I absolutely love your video response. You obviously thought this out before beginning, and it's just beautifully done. Hope it shows up as a response soon.

BTW, I tried to rep you for it, but the system wouldn't let me rep you again yet.

[Ruffie]

Succinct, positive, thoughtful and elequently put. The video just further reminded me if why I respect and like you!
Ruth

[Tina]

Thank you all so very much. It's a good thing I didn't think about it too much before doing it, or I might have chickened out. The main reason why I did it is because they have a 500 word limit there for comments, and my comment was longer than that. Go figure.

I didn't think I normally spoke with a lisp, but I'm sounding a bit like Drew Barrymore there.

[TraciJo67]

Wow, Tina. You are a convincing, intelligent & eloquent speaker. I loved hearing you speak, and I agreed with everything that you said. Mostly though, I just loved seeing you, and matching what I know of your online presence to your voice, tone, and facial expressions.

And it just confirmed why I love you so much

[mimosa]

Dammit!!!!!! Wanted to rep you Tina. You are wonderful.

[mango]

Well Said Tina!!

(I also posted that comment on your YouTube comment reply)


Tyra did seem a little contrived in her tears on her show. I dunno.
All I'll say is that she's a great actor.


I don't get to see too much American TV so I'll ask -

Other than Tyra's 'fat suit - day in the life of a fat girl' episode, has she done anything else to promote size acceptance?

Has she had on her show or done other shows / events with size positive celebs like Mo' Nique or Queen Latifah?

[Fascinita]

Brava, Tina. Well done.

[GunnerFA]

Bravo, that was excellent. Great to see logic and reasoning used. Your argument makes people think so should get a better response than Tyra's emotional outburst. Very well spoken.

[Tina]

Wow. Just got off the phone from talking with my Darling Husband and look what awaits. Thank you all so much for your supportive comments. And thank you to my wonderful friend Traci for those loving words. I love you, too, my dear.

Mango, I don't believe Tyra has done anything beyond that fat suit show, but since I don't normally follow her, I might not be aware of it if she had (though I have the feeling we'd have seen it here, eh? ).

I don't know if her show allows responses or approves them (evidently, my video has to be approved as a response before it will show up), or if she will ever see what I had to say, but I thank you all for giving me a bit of confidence that I wasn't a complete goober.

[Les Toil]

Thumbs 101% up, Tina. Fantastic. I was really peeved at one of her fat suit shows, the one where she went on 3 or 4 dates in that god-awful get-up. She was clearly trying to antagonize fat bigotry out of her dates when none was really there. She asked one guy if he prefered thinner women and when he admited he did, she jumped all over him. What a fucked up way to conduct an experiment. LMAO...if I was her I would have fired my staff for not being able to find at least 3 fat-hating jerks. But who knows, maybe we're showing a bit of progress in size acceptance.

Your race reference at the end of your piece was brilliant, love.

[Tina]

Thank you, Lester.

You know, I cannot speak with any authority about the fat suit thing, as I didn't see it. I sure read enough about it, and came away with the feeling that it might have been well-intentioned, like this video, but it fell flat -- again, like this video I responded to.

I wasn't sure about the reference to race. I almost didn't include it. After all, being fat is so often compared, by fat people, to being Black. While there are some similiarities in experience, I am aware that it's certainly not even close in some ways. I also do remember Arsenio Hall's rant about it, and he wasn't off the mark. In the end I decided to include it, and I hope that wasn't the wrong thing to do.

[stan_der_man]

Tina, I will be interested to see if the Tyra Banks Show posts your response on their website. If they do please tell us. I don't really know what all Tyra has done other than what I read here on Dims, but I'm somewhat cynical of her motives to be honest. I sense that her career is tenuous at best and this is just some sort of schtick she is doing to make herself relevent (or interesting for that matter...) It reminds me of Kirstie Alley doing that "Fat Actress" show... it was clearly an attempt to prop up her career after she gained some weight, and the whole spin with Jenny Craig after "Fat Actress" bombed, just seems to be a continuation of that effort. If the Tyra Banks Show posts your response on their website then maybe they are truly interested in dialog about fat acceptance. If they don't, I stand by my theory that this is just a gimmick to extend the twilight of her career and they don't want their message diluted. I think the movie / entertainment industry knows that fat acceptance (fat models, fat fashion) may be the next "big thing" but it seems they don't know how to make it happen and efforts like what Tyra is attempting keep falling flat because they are the simply the wrong people doing it.



Stan

[_msz.lyric]

Well said, Tina!
Your video touched me.

I wish that she could see.

[HottiMegan]

I really liked your response and do hope it is put on the site.

I watched Tyra Banks here and there when nothing is on and she seems quite passionate about promoting "beauty at any size" sort of train of thought. She has even brought designers on who are breaking boundries by designing for plus size and curvy women. So i think is putting in an effort for not promoting thin being in.

[_msz.lyric]

Originally Posted by HottiMegan

I really liked your response and do hope it is put on the site.

I watched Tyra Banks here and there when nothing is on and she seems quite passionate about promoting "beauty at any size" sort of train of thought. She has even brought designers on who are breaking boundries by designing for plus size and curvy women. So i think is putting in an effort for not promoting thin being in.

She's only doing this now, because she wants everyone to accept when she blows up. LOL

I'm all for her promoting that, but I think she has some selfish reasons behind it. And I used to watch her show all the time, until I noticed how she would invite guests onto her show and she would attack them. And there was nothing they could really do or say, because it was her home turf. The audience are going to cheer her on, even if she's not right sometimes.

Some guests have to go on there with their boxing gloves and vaseline. LOL

[Jon Blaze]

Great video.

I sort of have a love/hate relationship with her show. It seems that in the midst of usually attemping to have some sort of equality view, she can sometimes instigate anger if it isn't necessary, and over express things as you say. That, and she sometimes drastically changes sides in some cases (I think within a couple shows she was touting weight loss, which you know i don't oppose necessarily, but it was near the time the comment/show aired.. ).

I still think she's F***** hot though, and I think she'll get it right eventually (Or so I hope). She needs to try the movement out for herself.

Thanks again!

[Dr. Feelgood]

Originally Posted by Jon Blaze

I still think she's F***** hot though, and I think she'll get it right eventually (Or so I hope).

But nobody's as hot as Tina! Seriously, if anyone ever needs convincing that (1)fat is beautiful and (2) people should be valued for who they are, show them this video.

[HottiMegan]

Originally Posted by _msz.lyric

She's only doing this now, because she wants everyone to accept when she blows up. LOL

I'm all for her promoting that, but I think she has some selfish reasons behind it. And I used to watch her show all the time, until I noticed how she would invite guests onto her show and she would attack them. And there was nothing they could really do or say, because it was her home turf. The audience are going to cheer her on, even if she's not right sometimes.

Some guests have to go on there with their boxing gloves and vaseline. LOL

I quit watching because she seems so judgmental. But i did think, even if it's for her own gain, promoting the idea that body acceptance is a good thing regardless of size.

[Tina]

OMG, Doctor, I think I actually, really am blushing. And grinning like a fool. Thank you!

And thank you lyric and Megan for your comments -- and to Jon, for what you said in the comments section of the video. It's much appreciated.