Bridgerton's "Mixed-Weight" Romance Sparks Outrage: Is Body-Shaming Still Reigning Supreme?
Season 3 of Netflix's beloved period drama, "Bridgerton," has taken the world by storm once again, smashing viewership records and setting hearts aflutter with Colin and Penelope's highly anticipated romance. But amidst the swooning and sigh-worthy declarations of love, a sinister shadow has emerged, casting a pall over the celebration: body-shaming.
"Not Hot" and Other Offensive Headlines
While critics and fans alike have praised the chemistry between Luke Newton, who plays the dashing Colin Bridgerton, and Nicola Coughlan, the witty and wonderful Penelope Featherington, some corners of the internet have chosen to fixate on Coughlan's weight.
One particularly egregious article, published by The Spectator, went so far as to declare Coughlan "not hot," bluntly stating, "She's not shapely…she's fat." The article went on to argue that "a zest for equality and diversity…just isn't enough to make a fat girl who wins the prince remotely plausible.
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The audacity! Could this writer be any more out of touch with reality – and basic human decency?
Even an article in The Guardian, while ostensibly defending Coughlan, couldn't resist labeling her "a little bit fat" in its headline.
Fans Rally in Support of Coughlan
Thankfully, fans of the show were quick to call out the blatant body-shaming and express their outrage at the offensive commentary.
"This only applies where the female character is bigger," one fan pointed out on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the hypocrisy of an industry that readily accepts larger-bodied men romancing smaller-bodied women on screen.
Another fan echoed this sentiment: "A 'mixed-weight' relationship?! Surely this applies to the overwhelming majority – pretty unlikely coincidence that two people would be of identical weights. Weird suggestion to imply people should partner up by weight!"
Coughlan's Empowering Response
And how does Nicola Coughlan feel about being thrust into the center of this debate? She's taking it all in stride, using her platform to advocate for body positivity and shut down the haters with grace and humor.
In an interview with Stylist, Coughlan revealed that she actually requested some of her "Bridgerton" love scenes to be extra steamy. Why? To stick it to the body-shamers, of course!
"I specifically asked for certain lines and moments to be included," she explained.
"There's one scene where I'm very naked on camera, and that was my idea, my choice. It just felt like the biggest 'fuck you' to all the conversation surrounding my body; it was amazingly empowering."
A Powerful Message: Love Knows No Size
The backlash against the body-shaming directed at Nicola Coughlan is a powerful reminder that times are changing. Viewers are no longer willing to accept outdated beauty standards or tolerate the objectification of women's bodies. We celebrate diversity in all its forms, and that includes body size.
Colin and Penelope's love story, in all its heartwarming and, yes, even steamy glory, is a testament to the fact that love knows no size.
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