Aimee Walker
Skincare brand Dove has ripped into the film The Whale for using a fat suit instead of an obese actor.
The Whale, directed Darren Aronofsky, follows a reclusive and obese man named Charlie (played by Brendan Fraser) who is desperate to reconnect with his teenage daughter.
Fraser, 54, tearfully accepted an Academy Award for Best Actor in the role and says it give him a ‘creative lifeline’.
On Graham Norton’s chat show, The Mummy star says he wore ‘extensive prosthetic makeup’ when playing the character.
Find out what Brendan Fraser has to say about The Whale in the clip below…
Fraser also wore a fat suit, which he says ‘really made the experience of playing the part’.
Although the George of the Jungle actor has received a ton of praise for his part in the film, he’s now facing criticism from the skincare brand Dove.
It all started when a Twitter user took to the platform and referenced the film’s additional win for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
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The person tweeted: “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.”
In response to the tweet, Dove commented: “Stop giving fat suits awards.
“We want better representation in Hollywood. #LetsChangeBeauty.”
Many people have taken to Twitter to blast Dove’s comment, with many arguing that it wouldn’t be healthy to cast an obese person in the role.
One person responded: “Because being grossly overweight isn’t healthy, regardless of how you feel about it.
“Having an actor either gain that weight or sustain it while filming would be dangerous. That’s why we have makeup artists deserving of Oscars.”
Another added: “It is called acting. Now get back to selling soap.”
While a third user commented: “Give me a break. It’s a movie. That’s the nature. An actor portrays someone other than themselves.”
“Surely this is missing the point of acting… anyone being able to play a role so long as they play it well!” somebody else says.
However, other people have taken to social media and criticised the movie for being ‘fatphobic’.
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One viewer fumed: “The Whale was stupid. The Whale was bad. The Whale was fatphobic and a horrible script. The Whale, ridiculously, used a fat suit, which made it even more fatphobic. The Whale was a terrible portrayal of what a 600 lb fat person’s life is like.”
In agreement, a second said: “Reminder that the entire concept of The Whale is fatphobic and dehumanising.”
Somebody else wrote: “Quick, someone get up and slap the person responsible for the fat suit in The Whale.”
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