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News Media Ask: Does Jessica Simpson Look Fat in This?

Posted on January 30, 2009

Jessica Simpson has been the center of much discussion lately, because of less than fashion forward outfit she wore to a Florida concert. The blogosphere and even the mainstream media picked up the story, attacking Jessica for gaining weight. Now the entire issue is getting wall to wall coverage, but it was the New York Post that hit a new low in misogyny with its disgusting cartoon which portrays Jess as obese. Here's the roundup of what everyone is saying.

• Many gossip blogs (see here) discussed photographs of the outift Jessica Simpson wore to her 99.9 Kiss Country 24th Annual Chili Cook Off in Pembroke Pines, Florida concert. The outfit included high waisted jeans and two belts. She was accused of being overweight by many gossip bloggers. This coverage spread to the mainstream media. There are now hundreds of articles on Google News about Jessica Simpson's weight.
• Ashlee Simpson defended her sister on her blog and said she is "completely disgusted by the headlines concerning my sister's weight."
• The New York Post posted a horrible cartoon that shows an obese Jessica Simpson telling boyfriend Tony Romo she met someone else, Ronald McDonald.
• Jessica Simpson's former trainer defended her curves. Harley Pasternak said, "I think if more people looked the way she looks now, the country would be a lot healthier."
• Kim Kardashian told People that she thought Jessica looked hot in her outfit.
• Ashlee's husband Pete Wentz weighed in and said, "I think that the media puts too harsh of a spotlight on women in general, and I think it's a bummer." He also said, "Real beauty is on the inside, man."

Jessica's 99.9 Kiss Country concert attire may not have been the most au courant ensemble she could have chosen (you know how we feel about high-waisted jeans: they should be banned from stores) and that's certainly something fashion blogs and gossip blogs could discuss: she's a celeb, her outfits are fair game. But stories about her weight and vicious editorial cartoons have crossed the line into misogyny. Only a woman-hating psycho would call Jessica Simpson fat. This is the kind of over the top coverage that leads to eating disorders. We shudder to think how many actresses, models and everyday women are reading every word of these attacks, just before they head to the bathroom to throw up again, lest they get the same treatment in the press or at school. Remember, our culture's obsession with women's weight puts pressure on not just celebrities, but every little girl who is exposed to the media.

The latest news is that Jessica has thanked her fans for supporting her. People reports that at a concert in Charlottesville Jessica said, "Thank you for your support. Stay positive, and pray out loud! I love you guys, good night."

Here's a video that shows clips of the outfit in question:

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