Marie Claire Has a Weight Problem (Again)

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Marie Claire magazine has long had a weight problem—or, more accurately, a problem with weight. Last October, the magazine's website and editor-in-chief infuriated readers when they refused to adequately apologize for writer Maura Kelly's screed about how she feels "grossed out" watching fat people walk across the room or, god forbid, kiss. The magazine and editor issued a lame statement saying: "Maura Kelly is a provocative blogger. She has been extraordinarily moved by the thousands of responses she has received..." The message was loud and clear: Marie Claire deemed it perfectly acceptable to call entire groups of people "gross" and "aesthetically displeasing." Three cheers for free speech in women's magazine, huh?

Fast forward to the June 2011 issue, which features Kate Hudson and Ginnifer Goodwin on the cover. The inside feature on the two actresses, who are starring in Something Borrowed together, includes six paragraphs on their weight—that's nearly half the entire story, The Frisky points out.

I have no idea if Ginnifer Goodwin—or Kate Hudson, for that matter—has body issues, but you know who does? Marie Claire, for devoting basically half of its feature story on the actresses to discussing their weight. Goodwin and Hudson are in a movie together —“Something Borrowed”—and they’re appearing on the cover of the magazine, I would assume, to promote that movie, yet aside from a few cursory references to the film, the movie isn’t discussed in any sort of depth whatsoever. Color me confused. It’s not that I think “Something Borrowed” is, like, the most interesting movie thematically, but considering the writer found a way to write six paragraphs about weight, you would think a plot description of the film the two star in would make the final cut.

· Marie Claire Devotes Six Paragraphs To Discussing Kate Hudson And Ginnifer Goodwin’s Weight [The Frisky]
· The skinny on Kate & Ginny [Marie Claire]
· Maura Kelly's lame apology and Marie Claire's lamer statement [Racked]