Open Forum Friday: Are Fat Suits Offensive?

Posted by on February 18th, 2011   Filed under: Open Forum Friday

With the latest installment in the acclaimed Big Momma’s House series hitting theatres today, it seems like as good a time as any to tackle a hot button issue that I don’t think we’ve ever covered before on Open Forum Friday: fat suits. Granted, it’s been a while since we’ve seen a fat suit comedy in theatres (when was Tyler Perry’s last Madea movie?), but they never seem to go away. While most of them are typically seen as the absolute lowest of low brow comedies, they still seem to make money, and are tolerated as dumb but harmless entertainment. But are they really harmless, or is it socially irresponsible to be making movies that poke fun at character that are overweight?

I realize that the point of the fat suits is that the actual actors themselves are not fat, and that makes people feel more comfortable laughing at them. But in a way, that almost makes it worse. At the very least, some of these roles could be going to larger actors instead of dressing up a thin person who is making fun of something they’ve never had to deal with. I do think there have been some great comedians over the years who have made their weight a part of their act, and when they are the ones poking fun at themselves, it feels a bit more acceptable. What do you think? Are fat suits demeaning and offensive? Should Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy find a new schtick or can fat jokes funny in the right context? Why are these kinds of comedies still successful? Give us your thoughts here on Open Forum Friday.



  • kyri

    I ‘ve heard Cristian Bale is going to wear one in the next Batman.

  • KeithTalent

    Is this really a hot button issue?

    Fat = funny, there’s no getting around it and while people pretending to be fat is usually less funny, it’s still somewhat funny. I’m not fat, so I don’t find it offensive, but if someone put on an ugly white guy suit it wouldn’t offend me.

  • Fatbologna

    No, they’re just really fuckin’ stupid.

  • Yeah it’s funny till they drop dead of an MI. Fat suits = funny as long as they are so huge mostly fat people feel better. I think it is dumb humor. But thats where we are.

  • Colin

    This poll is more offensive than the suits

  • The existence of this “Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son” film and the fact that it looks criminally unfunny (He’s FAT! And a WOMAN! AGAIN!) is what I find offensive. It doesn’t even look like a real movie, like it’s one of Tracy Morgan’s fake movies on “30 Rock” or something.

  • Indeud.

  • jonblaze87

    I guess it just depends on how the “fat” characters are portrayed. I haven’t seen any recent fat suit movies. I think the most recent one I saw was Shallow Hal which had a message I guess.

    But I can’t help but think that people who are obese could feel uncomfortable watching these films. Especially if the fat characters are being ridiculed or stuffing their face acting like slobs.

    So yeah the fat suit issue probably is sensitive to some. But so is any other movie that exposes flawed physical traits.

    Just gotta deal with it…

  • Jonny Ashley

    I want more movies where people make fat suits out of real people.

  • Xidor

    The fat suites can also be frustrating. If you are attracted to that type of person, it is misleading when you find out that the build of that person isn’t real.

  • It is the films that are offensive for being so ill-conceived and unfunny.

  • Derek McFarland

    I’m not a large person, but if I were, and I was watching one of these stupid ass movies in a theater, with other movie watchers that weren’t large… I can only imagine that I would feel a bit uneasy (assuming I would not be happy with my weight). But then again, there are a lot of large people that are fine with there weight, and can relate to the humor in some of the situations that the actors, in the “fat” suits are wearing. I’ll admit there are maybe one or two of these movies that I have enjoyed, like Shallow Hal; mainly due to the fact that I’m a huge Farrelly Brother’s fan. That movie was way over the top, just like all of there other movies; but funny, with a sweet ending. But movies like big mommas house “is” about non large characters putting on an actual fat suit, which kinda reminds me of the old days when Caucasians would put on black paint make up, to look like African Americans. But IDK… really it’s just the well known named actors that are selling these types of movies. I mean there are more “in shape” actors, than “out of shape” ones (when it comes to Hollywood. I’m sure that as long as this is a free Country we’re living in, these types of movies will keep getting made; and those who find them offensive have the freedom to not watch them; or even more so; not give a shit about them. I’m a black dude, but I can’t stand rap music, for the most part, cause there are more than enough things about most rap music that I find offensive (towards women, Caucasians, and even black people, that don’t consider them selves “gansta” or “ghetto”), so I choose not ta listen or watch the music videos. Each to its own

  • Ben

    No.

    People need to stop being such huge pussies.

    (whoops, is that insulting to giant vaginas?)

  • MGL

    NO.. real fat people are offensive.

  • Derek McFarland

    @ MGL… Not if they can’t help themselves.

  • Werner

    I want my Skinny Suit!!!

  • swarez

    I found White Chicks more offensive than any fat suit movie.

  • Derek McFarland

    Lol… I hope you didn’t waist your time actually watching White Chicks. It’s amazing that they got away with that movie (controversially). Cause if it would have made a movie called “Black Chicks”, (with some Caucasian dudes; trying to act ignorant and loud, I think the shit would have hit the fan. But something tells me that the majorities somewhat let that stupid looking movie slide, out of being spitted from old past discrepancies. Not saying that makes it right though. But like I said before… you always have the freedom to not watch that trashy guff.

  • anton

    I loved fat guy in austin powers.

  • Strand0410

    Fat suits aren’t the problem. Shitty comedies from Martin Lawrence are. All these ‘urban market’ movies are pretty horrible anyway.

  • Hugh

    Open Forum Friday: Are Fat Suits Offensive?

    A big fat yes to that!

  • Superdave5481

    I think that Hollywood needs to stop producing anymore of these type of films. Just like a Saturday Night Live skit, it has gone way too far and still has not stopped. For some reason, there are enough mindless folks out there paying for it, so it keeps happening. There are over 20 fat suit movies, and many many short videos/ music videos also. Enough already!!! Just like a Nightmare on Elm Street or Friday the 13th or a fat security guard movie . After a couple of them, it is either annoying and/or boring. Hollywood, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop the crap and come up with something new. and don’t re-do a film already done. Fat is not funny, it is repulsive, sick and entirely an unhealthy disease of the mind and body. Try some real original humor for a change.