A couple of days ago, Marie Claire’s blog put up a very cruel elitist post by a freelance blogger named Maura Kelly. Kelly’s story, titled “Should ‘Fatties’ Get a Room? (Even on TV?)” outlined the various ways she was personally offended by the idea of the new CBS comedy, Mike & Molly, the premise of which involves a couple who meets at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting and falls in love. Not only did Kelly say the show was “implicitly promoting obesity,” she said she was uncomfortable even seeing very heavy people in everyday life and compared them to alcoholics and drug addicts. She wrote “yes, I think I’d be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other … because I’d be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch a very, very fat person simply walk across a room — just like I’d find it distressing if I saw a very drunk person stumbling across a bar or a heroine [sic] addict slumping in a chair.” It was clear that Kelly had never bothered to watch the show (full episodes are online at CBS.com) and that the piece was written very quickly, which Kelly has admitted, even responding that she’s sorry and wishes she could take it down. The editor of Marie-Claire has said that that they stand by the article, and added that Kelly is “a very provocative blogger [who] was an anorexic herself and this is a subject she feels very strongly about.” Editor Joanna Coles also admitted that she’s never seen the show but still has a problem with with it. “I’m concerned about a show that makes fun of large people.”

Unlike the author of this slapdash article or the editor of Marie-Claire I actually watched an episode of Mike & Molly and was neither uncomfortable or offended. In fact the show was so funny at times I was laughing out loud. It has a standard sitcom formula with a very annoying laugh track that I could do without, but other than that most of the jokes are good. It’s a nice premise for a show and the lead characters are believable, vulnerable and adorable together. They do make self deprecating jokes about their weight but it seems natural in the context of the show. I’m not the only one who likes it, Mike & Molly is faring very well in the ratings and is likely to get renewed for a second season.

The creator of the show has responded to this mean spirited story, and his reaction is very thoughtful and human. He’s a compassionate and funny guy who created a solid show that is striking a nerve with people:

THR: What was your reaction to this post?
Roberts: The woman apologized at the end of it. Clearly, she realized she said some pretty hateful things. My initial reaction is she’s talking about [Billy Gardell and Melissa McCarthy] and I love them; I feel protective and angry about people being loose-lipped. I guess hateful is the only way to describe [the post].

THR: She says the leads “appear to be morbidly obese.” Do you agree with that description?
Roberts: I don’t know. I don’t think of anybody by their body type, certainly not people that I work with and love and respect. I think of them as unbelievably talented people who captured these characters and brought them to life. I struggled with weight all my life, and I don’t know how to address this without being angry with somebody else’s stupidity about other human beings.

THR: If this is her honest reaction to the show, is it wrong for her to express it?
Roberts: You know, everybody is welcome to their opinion, and clearly she can express her opinion, and thousands can express theirs about hers. I would never tell anybody to express how they feel about something. If you don’t like the show’s writing or acting, OK. This was just about human beings. It’s her face she has to look at in the mirror. I don’t mean that to sound hateful.

THR: She also accused the show of promoting an unhealthy lifestyle.
Roberts: I hate when people stand in judgment over anybody. We all have our own struggles. There’s something wonderful about embracing everybody; it’s what makes us human. And it’s what people are responding to in this show. I don’t see these people size-wise, they’re just so lovable to me.

THR: Is there anything else you’d like to add about this?
Roberts: The shocking thing is we live in a society where this was an issue. Jackie Gleason would never get on TV now because he’s a large man who drank on TV. We’ve taken steps backward under the guise of what’s healthy. Almost everybody I know struggles with something — whether it’s their weight or alcohol or temper. To stand in judgment of somebody — especially when you’re breaking it down to just the aesthetic. It just makes me sad … wow that makes me sound much more upset than I really am. But I am un-friending that woman on Facebook.

[From The Hollywood Reporter]

That was so cute how he added that he was unfriending her on Facebook! You can tell that he was hurt by that story, not for himself but for the actors that helped bring his vision to the small screen. I really agree with what he had to say about how we all have our struggles and issues.

Marie-Claire is going to be dealing with the fallout from this asinine editorial for a long time, especially given their response. There’s some very good analysis on this controversy on Jezebel and The Frisky if you’d like to read more.