James Corden Blasts Bill Maher For Encouraging Fat-Shaming
James Corden put Maher on notice about fat-shaming during one of his shows
The Late Late Show host James Corden delivered a series of blows after another late-night host, Bill Maher, decided to dedicate part of his show, Real Time With Bill Maher to fat-shaming people.
It all started when Maher did a segment asking for people to “return” to fat-shaming people because “some amount of shame is good.” He also said it’s a good way to deal with the obesity problem in America, saying, “We’ve gone to this weird place where fat is good. It’s pointing out that fat is unhealthy that’s what is bad. Fat shame? We fit shame.” OK, Bill.
Corden clearly had enough after the segment aired, talking pointedly about the fact that obesity is a complex issue that involves education, a lack of healthy food options, poverty, and genetics. “If making fun of fat people made them lose weight, there’d be no fat kids in schools. And I’d have a six-pack right now,” he said.
Corden started by making fun of both himself and Maher for their ratings and other funny stuff, then got serious pretty quick, saying, “Fat-shaming never went anywhere. Ask literally any fat person, we are reminded of it all the time – we are literally reminded of it all the time – on airplanes, on Instagram, when someone leaves a pie on the windowsill to cool and they give us a look like ‘Don’t you dare.’”
The fact that Maher would consider bullying someone into feeling so horribly about themselves that they feel like shit every time they look in the mirror is abhorrent. He’s also assuming if someone holds extra weight it automatically means they’re unhealthy and that all “skinny” people are the picture of health.
Corden continued: “There’s a common and insulting misconception that fat people are stupid and lazy and we’re not. We get it, we know. We know that being overweight isn’t good for us and I’ve struggled my entire life trying to manage my weight and I suck at it.” Then, he delivered this zinger — “We’re not all as lucky as Bill Maher, you know, we don’t all have a sense of superiority that burns 35,000 calories a day,” he said. Maher walked right into that one.
Corden pointed out that fat-shaming is harmful and can lead to depression, self-destructive behaviors, and even death. “Let’s be honest, fat-shaming is just bullying. And bullying just makes the problem worse,” he said.
Corden also showed a clip of Maher’s segment, saying, “It’s not just about being able to see a doctor. It’s also about being able to see your dick.” Gross. Of course, Corden had the perfect comeback, saying, “Believe me, I can see a dick.”
Bravo.
