Megyn Kelly was hit with backlash on Thursday after suggesting some people want to be shamed for being “fat.”
Speaking to “fit mom” and “No Excuses” campaign founder Maria Kang, she shared on yesterday’s episode of Today about how years ago she would ask her stepfather to fat shame her!
Related: Ruby Rose Goes HAM On Bodyshaming Dietician
ICYMI, she said:
“You should parlay the shaming thing into a professional business. Because some of us want to be shamed,. When I was in law school, I was gaining weight, I said to my stepfather, ├óΓé¼╦£If you see me going into that kitchen one more time, you say, ├óΓé¼╦£Where you going, fat ass?’ And it works!”
“It works”?? No wonder people interpreted it as endorsing fat shaming!
On Friday, the daytime TV host clarified her remarks about body shaming in order to start a “conversation.” She told the audience:
“I said something yesterday on the show that clearly struck a nerve, and I think it’s a conversation we need to have openly. We were discussing body shaming others, something I absolutely do not support. In fact, quite the opposite.”
Maybe she should have mentioned that initially?? But we digress.
The 47-year-old decided to open up about her past struggles, as with her family’s:
“My entire family is or has been overweight, or obese. My Nana, my mom, my sister, and my brother. I spoke to my sister yesterday and she gave me permission to share that she was, at one point, over 300 pounds and ultimately chose to have gastric bypass surgery… By the time I got to middle school, the hormones and the weight kicked in. I was chubby, by any standard and soon I found myself on the wrong side of some vicious bullies. Ones who called me fat, and made fun of my backside, who subjected me to humiliating pranks. Those comments can cut deep, trust me, I know.”
Megyn added she still faces some body image issues, revealing:
“As an adult I’ve gotten healthier in my approach to eating, but I, like every woman I know, still wrestle with body image, and still cringe when I hear a person attacked for his or her weight. Please know, I would never encourage that toward any person. I’ve been thinking a lot about why I once encouraged it toward myself. What I know for sure is that weight is an issue for millions of people, thin and heavy alike. And neither deserves to be judged or shamed for how they choose to handle that struggle.”
It’s in no way an apology for her candid remarks, but she’s certainly being honest with her feelings and her own struggles in the past.
Watch the full clip (below), and let us know what YOU think!
[Image via Macguyver/WENN.]
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