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The recent Oscar-winning film "The Whale" has come under fire from a well-known British brand, Dove, for its portrayal of an extremely obese man. The film has been criticized for casting Hollywood actor Brendan Fraser, who wore a "heavy prosthetic makeup" to play the lead character, instead of casting a truly obese person.
The Controversy The criticism started with a post by an obese Twitter user, KB Heylen, who expressed disappointment in the film's hair and makeup department for winning an Oscar for their work. "So disappointing that The Whale won the Oscar for best hair and makeup.
Fat suits are harmful - they are not your opportunity to win awards. Our identity is not your costume. Cast fat actors to play fat characters. #TheWhale #fatphobia #fatsuit #Oscars," wrote Heylen. Dove supported the statement by tweeting, "Stop giving fat suits awards.
We want better representation in Hollywood. #LetsChangeBeauty." Fraser's Performance During an interview with British talk show host Graham Norton, Fraser spoke about the experience of wearing the heavy prosthetic makeup and body suit, saying, “It was designed with the rules that it would obey gravity and physics.
It was appropriately heavy and that really made the experience of playing the part, I think, a lot closer to what it would be like to live in a body of a man that size, for me personally." Despite Fraser's efforts, the film's choice to cast a costumed actor instead of a truly obese person has drawn criticism from those advocating for better representation in Hollywood.
The film's depiction of an obese man has sparked a conversation about the representation of body types in Hollywood and the use of "fat suits" in film. While Brendan Fraser won an Oscar for his performance, the film's decision to cast a costumed actor instead of a truly obese person has drawn criticism from those pushing for more inclusive and accurate representation in the entertainment industry.