Enjoy being fat or unfat, everyone!

American Idol Keeps “Too Heavy” Girl Out Of The Front Row

April 14th, 2011

Adorable 19-year-old Ashley Kauffman was separated from her skinny friends and told by an usher she was “too big” to sit in the front row of the American Idol studio audience.

She had been given free tickets to attend the filming of American Idol and was understandably excited. But 19-year-old Ashley Kauffman’s joy soon turned to upset on being told she was ‘too big’ to sit in the front row

There were two [female ushers] and one said: “Oh, I don’t want shorts in front,” about my friend,’…Then [the usher] looked at me and said: “Oh no, you’re too big, too heavy to be in front!” To make matters worse Miss Kauffman and the two other girls were then seated in the back of the theatre rather than directly behind their other friends…

She added that staff had seated two girls who were ‘super skinny and wearing little dresses’ in the front row where [she] and her friends would have been sitting.

Ashley says she is still going to support the contestants on the show, but is speaking out to “make sure it’s known how they treated me.” Good for you, Ashley, and I hope you get an apology–and front-row seats to the finale.

Via Rickey.org.

Posted by mo pie

Filed under: American Idol, Fatism, TV

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25 Responses to American Idol Keeps “Too Heavy” Girl Out Of The Front Row

  1. RebbyQ, on April 14th, 2011 at 11:57 am Said:

    Mo I have some suggestions for her and I’ll send you an email. This is really disgusting and while to be honest I don’t think the producers care an ounce I think a lot of the former contestants will. I’m gunna ask to pass the word on to the handful we know. Luv ya xoxo!!

  2. Twistie, on April 14th, 2011 at 1:06 pm Said:

    Good for Ashley! I’m glad she’s speaking up for herself. Calling people on their crap is not easy, especially when their crap is so prevalent and unquestioned.

    But that doesn’t mean it isn’t crap.

  3. Elizabeth, on April 14th, 2011 at 4:23 pm Said:

    As a big fatty fat pants myself, I normally hate the response to this kind of thing that goes, “she’s not even that fat!” because, frankly, it implies that this kind of shit treatment would be OK if someone were “that fat.” Which, of course, it wouldn’t.

    But I have to say that I was actually shocked when I saw this girl’s picture. Whuh???

    This world is full of so many things I don’t understand.

  4. ki, on April 14th, 2011 at 6:26 pm Said:

    I am not surprised by this. I mean it would be great and more to the shows advantage to be more family oriented and of quality like star search back in the day. But they cant because they have too many apparently unstable and gutter trash acting people working on this set. Afterall, there have been alot of stories about workers on this show making supposed threats and tacky comments. Next it will be you are too pale, too short, too skinny, too improvished looking, too liberal, too conservative looking etc. Anything for ratings and attention like dancing with the stars and that staged dropping of kristie alley which was not cute since that woman seems so mentally fragile! I mean afterall no wonder why many people on this show have mental ill (depression issues, weight problems, alcoholism, etc) problems. This includes some of the judges! They are all looney and to me this show has always been overrated. It’s just that they dont have much competition. If Star seach was too come back and at the same level of talent it would kick this shows rear! They just dont make good telelvision anymore. That is why I dont bother to watch it. Besides everyone is on the internet trying to get looney from that instead.

  5. ksfji, on April 14th, 2011 at 6:28 pm Said:

    I am not surprised by this. I mean it would be great and more to the shows advantage to be more family oriented and of quality like star search back in the day. But they cant because they have too many apparently unstable and gutter trash acting people working on this set. Afterall, there have been alot of stories about workers on this show making supposed threats and tacky comments. Next it will be you are too pale, too short, too skinny, too improvished looking, too liberal, too conservative looking etc. Anything for ratings and attention like dancing with the stars and that staged dropping of kristie alley which was not cute since that woman seems so mentally fragile! I mean afterall no wonder why many people on this show have mental ill (depression issues, weight problems, alcoholism, etc) problems. This includes some of the judges! They are all looney and to me this show has always been overrated. It’s just that they dont have much competition. If Star seach was too come back and at the same level of talent it would kick this shows rear! They just dont make good telelvision anymore. That is why I dont bother to watch it. Besides everyone is on the internet trying to get looney from that instead. I love the fact that the looneys at american idol stay looney and share in that misery with their audience. Perhaps it will go off air and the network will be forced to make an actual quality show.

  6. nomorecrackheadstalkingmonkeys, on April 14th, 2011 at 6:36 pm Said:

    I am not surprised by this story. I mean it would be great and more to the shows advantage to be more family oriented and of quality like star search back in the day.

    But they cant because they have too many apparently unstable and gutter trash acting people working on there set. Afterall, there have been alot of stories about workers on this show making supposed threats and tacky comments towards people.

    Next it will be you are too pale, too short, too skinny, too improvished looking, too liberal, too conservative looking etc. Anything for ratings and attention like dancing with the stars and that staged dropping of kristie alley which was not cute since that woman seems so mentally fragile!

    I mean afterall no wonder why many people that have been on this show have mental illness (depression issues, weight problems, alcoholism, etc) problems. This includes some of the judges (past and present)! They are all looney and to me this show has always been overrated. It’s just that they dont have much competition.

    If Star seach was too come back and at the same level of talent it had way back when it would kick this shows rear! They just dont make good telelvision anymore.

    That is why I dont bother to watch this show. Besides everyone is on the internet trying to get looney from that instead. I appreciate that the network and the people that work on this show are working to share their misery and luancy with their audience and the rest of the world!

    • Chirons Gate, on April 21st, 2011 at 3:31 am Said:

      Can you please not armchair diagnose mental illness and use ableisms? We are all in this together and people with disabilities also are part of the FA community.

      Thank you,
      Chirons Gate
      A Fatty with a Mental illness

  7. Kathy, on April 14th, 2011 at 11:17 pm Said:

    I heard about this on Sacramento Y 92.5 and the host was supportive, but he did make that comment, “she’s not even that fat”, which is a major annoyance. Still, he was at least supportive of her and wasn’t saying it like if she’d been fat, it would have been OK to move her.

  8. Romi, on April 15th, 2011 at 8:58 am Said:

    So, out of curiousity, I had to check what was the size that annoyed the producers… I mean, I wouldn’t even call her fat, maybe slightly chubby only… I wonder what they’d say to a 270 like me! That is unacceptable!
    Still, GO Ashley! They shouldn’t get away with that!

  9. Lucy Curtis, on April 16th, 2011 at 12:26 am Said:

    Grr. I knew there was a weight limit to be on American Idol. I hadn’t realized they’d imposed a weight limit on being seen watching American Idol.

  10. Jackie, on April 18th, 2011 at 9:24 pm Said:

    My sister, who is fat, has been trying to get on American Idol for years. I keep telling my mom, because talking to my sister directly about it would lead to a fight, that it’s pointless because of the current state of size discrimination.

    My sister, is talented, but it’s like wasting time because American Idol is size biased. We were thinking she might have a shot on The Voice, where they judge a person’s performance before seeing them.

    It’s just really depressing to see my sister investing time trying to get into an industry which will only emphasize more that she should be thin. It didn’t take that long bore Jennifer Hudson was promoting Weight Watchers, and saying she lost weight. It all really sucks.

  11. xenu01, on April 19th, 2011 at 9:08 pm Said:

    I was all for this article until I got to the end of it where we were told the reason for her fatness was medical and that no one should assume she overeats because that’s not true!

    The thing is, it’s nobody’s damn business what she eats, and if she ate deep fried baby she still gets to expect to be treated like a human being. Because she is one. So that kind of “good fatty”/”bad fatty” nonsense is totally unnecessary.

  12. kyooty, on April 20th, 2011 at 1:23 pm Said:

    Ashley you are beautiful, and It shouldn’t ever matter where you sit.

  13. Kjerstin, on April 20th, 2011 at 10:46 pm Said:

    I’m horrified that this happened, but so glad Ashley is speaking up for herself. I wish my students at UCLA had that much confidence and sense of self-worth.

  14. Catherine, on April 22nd, 2011 at 4:36 pm Said:

    This is absolutely disgusting behavior and certainly the wrong message to be sending. This culture of ours has the audacity to discriminate like that – I am sickened. Ashley keep standing up for yourself – go girl!

  15. Nona, on April 23rd, 2011 at 12:20 pm Said:

    I saw part of an interview with her, and she’s a lot nicer about the whole thing that I would have been.

    I’ve hated idol since the start, because I’ve always felt the “winning” has very little to do with actual talent. Now, this goes to show if the AUDIENCE is judged where to sit based on “looks” that the actual idols certainly are.

  16. Pingback: Well Phuck You Too, American Idol! « icylattelady

  17. Addish, on May 5th, 2011 at 1:05 pm Said:

    I’m glad she’s not letting the experience shame her and make her quiet. What a bunch of douches. For some reason though, it doesn’t surprise me, American Idol just kind of seems like it would be this way. Bah! I don’t watch it anyways :p

  18. Laura, on May 5th, 2011 at 3:19 pm Said:

    First of all I would like to say that I saw that girl’s picture and she looks lovely. Second, it is really sickening to see people (especially a teenage girl) being treated that way at the filming of a “family” oriented program. I’m glad this girl is standing up for herself. There are too many teenage girls who have self esteem problems because of crap like this.

  19. Jeni, on May 6th, 2011 at 4:10 pm Said:

    Good on her for speaking out, how exciting to get free tickets to the front row, only to be kicked back. Personally I never notice audience members anyway isn’t the show about the contestants? I agree, noone is voting on their talent, it’s a load of bull.

  20. panda, on May 11th, 2011 at 8:51 am Said:

    Being or not being fat is a lifetime battle for me:
    http://arouda.blogspot.com/2011/05/fear-of-fat.html

  21. The Curvy Goddess, on May 17th, 2011 at 3:28 pm Said:

    This totally disgusts me. I’m so glad that she is speaking out. This would have totally traumatized me.

  22. percimenn, on May 25th, 2011 at 8:54 pm Said:

    I wonder what steven tyler would say about this? You know,the idol judge with a “plus sized” daughter. They owe Ashley big time

  23. Mike, on June 13th, 2011 at 10:59 pm Said:

    Is anyone watching how obese people are being presented on ABC’s Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition? Like normal human beings who aren’t eating b/c they’re fat and lazy – but b/c they’re dealing with real life emotional issues.

    Amazingly well done and entirely realistically presented. Check it out on Monday nights #imobsessed!! :)

    http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-weight-loss-edition

  24. Mark Wyler, on June 27th, 2011 at 2:44 am Said:

    I’m stunned and yet not at all surprised. Media has pushed negative self image since the dawn of time. That’s why I’m so moved by ABC’s Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition. Yes it’s a reality show – but for the first time every obese people are being treated with respect love and compassion. No goofy competitions or embarassing situations. Just good ole’ fashion love, acceptance, hard work and sweat. I would kiss Chris Powell the trainer if I ever met him. Since Idol’s over anyways check it out Monday’s at 10

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