Maura Kelly, “Fattie” Hater, Marie Claire Magazine



Maura Kelly of Marie Claire writes about ‘Mike & Molly’

Maura Kelly, a writer for Marie Claire magazine, wrote a scathing article about the television sitcom, Mike & Molly, calling the actors “fatties” who should “get a room.”

In the article entitled, “Should Fatties Get a Room? (Even on TV?)” Maura Kelly writes that obese people are basically disgusting, loathsome, lazy and she doesn’t want them anywhere in her sight. Not in public – and certainly not on television – all the while insisting, “I am not some size-ist jerk.”

Maura Kelly’s contradictory Marie Claire article states: “I think I’d be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other … because I’d be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch a very, very fat person simply walk across a room…”

But then later, in the same Marie Claire article, Maura Kelly says: “Now, don’t go getting the wrong impression: I have a few friends who could be called plump. I’m not some size-ist jerk. And I also know how tough it can be for truly heavy people to psych themselves up for the long process of slimming down.”

[Right: Scene from Mike & Molly, an ABC sitcom where two overweight people meet in Overeaters Anonymous and fall in love.]

Maura Kelly’s article was quite brash and extremely insensitive. I think her point was (if you read the entire article) that people need to take control of their lives and strive to be healthy. But flat out calling people “fatties” and talking about how disgusted she is by overweight people was not the way to get her point across. Maura Kelly came across as being better than them, and no one is going to listen to your point of view when you come out swinging like that.

Since Maura Kelly’s Marie Claire article has been published it has received tons of negative feedback. So much so, that Ms. Kelly has updated her online article with the following apology:

UPDATE:I would really like to apologize for the insensitive things I’ve said in this post. Believe it or not, I never wanted anyone to feel bullied or ashamed after reading this, and I sorely regret that it upset people so much. A lot of what I said was unnecessary; it wasn’t productive, either. – Maura Kelly

True that.

Spicy Update: Ok. After letting this story resonate within me I  thought of another reason why this story really bothers me. I don’t care what sized woman you are, or how beautiful, or how rich. When you open up the pages of a “women’s magazine” whether it be Elle, VOGUE or let’s say, Marie Claire, you are reminded of how thin, rich or young you are not. The advertisements all show young, wrinkle free, super thin, beautiful women who most of us end up either consciously or subconsciously allow ourselves to be compared to. The clothing is as much as our mortgage, and the women flawless beyond reality. As soon as we open the pages of a Marie Claire, we become those little girls who daydream about being thin enough, rich enough or pretty enough when we grow up. Articles like these just add to our insecurities. It’s sad really, women’s magazines should be about empowering women, not making them feel as though they are inferior. Wouldn’t you agree, Maura Kelly?

Shame on not only Maura Kelly, but the editor of Marie Claire for allowing this ridiculously pompous article to be published. If more women’s magazines (Marie Claire included) were more about giving women confidence regarding our inner beauty, we might just unite as a sex and work together instead of against each other – as you and I both know, women often do. It’s time women’s magazines step up to the plate and do just that. Because, for now, they aren’t really “women’s magazines” at all. They are simply catalogs likened to the Lifestyles of the Thin, Rich, Surgically Enhanced and Famous, aren’t they?

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Posted on: Controversy
  • Spassvogel

    My lovely fat ladies, please walk past this address:

    (SPICY UPDATE: Maura’s REAL home address and phone number has been removed from this comment. Yes, they were real, Marie Claire’s web director contacted me regarding it. I had thought it was an address/phone for Maura at Marie Claire. I try to not edit comments but this one surely does not belong as I never want to put anyone’s safety in jeopardy.)

  • betelgirl

    Beautifully put! I cannot believe such a large magazine allowed this article to be viewed by the public…so insensitive and disgusting. We should be taught to love, not hate ourselves and our bodies. Eating right and working out is healthy, but so is a healthy mind. If we don’t like ourselves/eachother, a healthy mind is not possible.

  • http://celebritysmackblog.com Spicy

    Well said betelgirl!

    Thanks Spassvogel for the contact info on Maura Kelly.

  • http://celebritysmackblog.com Spicy

    …and Maura Kelly’s Twitter: http://twitter.com/MauraKellyBlog

  • Rose

    Shame on MC, here’s hoping you end up in serious financial trouble, and a large loss of readership, by the New Year for printing this woman’s disgusting garbage!

    BTW Ms Kelly I am sinking to your level, which will take a lot of effort, hows this for a dose of your own.. might want to consider either smiling less, or a nose job for that wide load snot maker you got going there before you judge others.. your not so perfect yourself Ms Piggy *snort*

  • http://cmjmo@gmail.com Monique

    Amen to that!!! Women do not need other men
    nor men for that matter to put them down!!!

  • Mari

    Hello bitch come out the closet already!

  • nikki petty

    The thought of her kissing anyone makes me throw up in my mouth a little! What a loser she is, and I’m a size 4!!! Shame on Marie Claire for having such bad taste.

  • Kara

    I’m a size 12….I suppose that must seem gross. Since you clearly have stick figure women in mind, I have no plans to pick up Marie Claire magazine. Your “apology” is too little, too late – and shame on the editorial staff that allowed that to go to print.

  • ellelque

    Im taking it a step further and sending a letter to Hearst. Which also by the way publishes Oprah’s magazine. Here’s hoping O opens a big can of Whoop Ass on Maura!

  • John

    This horsey-faced cunt is calling other people too aesthetically unpleasing to look at? Really? Now that I see her face, I get it. Ugly women like her comfort themselves by thinking, “well at least I’m thin.” Doesn’t help.

  • Michelle

    Ok MK or should i call you “butterface?” Before calling other people horrible names..take a long look at yourself. At least overweight people can lose weight…you are stuck looking like shit for the rest of your life.

  • Kellie

    I’m heartbroken. Thanks for the number on my self esteem. People like you make sure the world never progress and acceptance is never universal.

  • Elizabeth

    Get over it! No amount of censorship or PC will cause morbid obesity to be viewed as attractive or healthy. Stop whining, turn off the computer and try some exercise.

  • Uppermichigan

    I love Mike & Molly when I watch this show I dont even think of them as fat people because they are human.
    They are who they are and what they do is bring us smiles and laughter just like Rosanne show.

    So is that what you said about your mother/father or grandparents?

    shame on you when I saw your picture All I can see is a painted toothpick.

    Im sure you will lose a lot of customers to your magazine because if I had a bookstore I would have sent your books back to you and say sorry theres no room on our shelves for you.
    ‘

  • Rose

    lol, I was reading some other posts today, and the words “You cant fix stupid” came to mind.

  • Greta

    Shame on Maura and Shame on Marie Claire. Maybe the article should have been all about her eating disabilities and how horrible of a person she is instead. No one on this earth has the right to judge people. We wonder why people are committing suicide due to being bullied and this magazine has allowed a bully to write for them. I will never buy this magazine and will fight for others to not buy it either.

  • ella

    Don’t forget how ‘not white’ the magazines remind you you are. I look through those magazines andqw see women with impossibly thin, pointed noses and most often blonde hair, and I wonder what it must be like to be that revered and accepted. To be undeniably ‘beautiful’ and not written off.

  • victoria

    This plain jane horse faced jerk has some nerve. Do the world a favor and DO SOMETHING with that skanky hair, too, after you reshape that big FAT nose of yours.

  • MelindaNoel

    I feel sorry for Maura Kelly and people like her. Here she admits to having her own ‘issues’ with body image in the past, so she chooses to re-create those feelings for her readers (most of them young and still growing through *ish) in the form of judgment of people who maybe dealing with issues that undoubted made her feel uncomfortable with who she was or maybe in the dark crevices of her mind still is to herself as well as her circle of friends. There is so many hateful and negative things that can and I am sure will be said to and about Maura Kelly. However, I would say that we ALL have imperfections that challenge us when it comes to loving one’s self completely. Fat is a physical manifestation of ‘other’ pains and what not. So, Maura Kelly was the point of your article to say that if I can ‘see’ your ‘issues’ your are not deserving of love and acceptance. Or are saying when you Maura Kelly, had this particular issue in your life ‘you’ were ‘unworthy’ of love and acceptance so you are of the opinion that anyone who is still dealing with the issue of weight should feel like you did/do? Once a fattie always a fattie no matter how much you puke, starve yourself, use every diet pill known to man or run around the block– You are who you are. And so am I.

    Sincerely,
    TheBigSexyDiva

  • ICthroughU

    Ladies – You would be surprised at the immense degree of hatred and prejudice that so many “perceived” pretty, petite women harbor. You know these women. They are miserably insecure, desperate and closet their hate behind their perceptions of beauty (thin bodies, long hair – often extensions secretly applied. If you had any idea the extent to which these thin women risk their health for appearances sake, you would want to approach them with a turkey sandwich.

    Maura Kelly – thank you for telling America what you really think. MC magazine – you have allowed prejudice to exist in your environment for too long!

  • kellymacrn

    Who do think reads the magazines you publish in, all the ladies that weigh less than120 lbs. In addition I’m sure that those who do read are polite enough not to mention that you have the perfect face for print or radio, or the belmont track.

  • Jamie

    Just because no one wants to kiss your nasty ass Maura Kelly, doesn’t mean people that weigh more than 90lbs can’t find love. who cares if you are 90lbs or 600lbs, black, white or asain, you are still a person that deserves to find love. Maura Kelly, GO TO HELL.

    Marie Claire- I will never read your magazine again nor will I ever watch Project Runway that is sponsored by your company. You are a disgrace!

  • Nancy

    Maura Kelly is as ugly of face as she is of mouth! Her hair is greasy. Her face is greasy and has way too much dark makeup to hide the pits. It is not blended down her neck properly. Don’t even get me started on her nose! OMG-it stands out like a water tower. How much brow powder does she have on? Or has she ever shaped those brows? Her teeth are fakey white. Her body looks sloppy and saggy. I’m sure she is out of shape. Her brain definitly does not work. She cannot write very good articles.
    WAIT! I don’t want to turn into her nastiness. I’m sorry. Does that cover it for me?
    I will never again buy Marie Claire Magazine. Not even if they fire the ugliest person I have ever come across publicly. Didn’t any Editor review her article before publishing it?

  • mayacyrus

    Wow, Amazing how a woman, who would only be considered “fair” lookiing herself, have the nerve to cast a stone at others who are equally imperfect.

    Well, Miss thing…as others have commented, lets turn that scrutiny on you.

    Your hair IS borderline greasy, flat and is a terrible color.

    Your NOSE IS HUGE. You need Rhinoplasty. In the meantime Maura, go get a room and hide in it. You are not deserving of any love, kindness or respect untiil after you have had yoru plastic surgery, and maybe a personality transplant while you are at it. kay?? GET A ROOM MAURA AND GO HIDE IN THERE. Snarky little moron.

  • DJ

    Nicely put. She should be fired.

  • http://talkssmack Big & Special

    I know what it’s like to have someone look at you with disgust like your not fit to breath the same air because you fat. It is very hurtfull. This behavior is called being prejudice. Who are you to sit in judgement on what body type should be on air. Do you think the reason the show has become so popular is because most people can relate to it. Even Sinfield(way more popular that you will ever be now) says the funniest things in comedy are those related to real life.

    The most disturbing thing out of all this is the anorexia card you decided to pull out in order to try to redeem yourself. It is hard to believe. I would think if that were the case you would have had more care with your words.

    Carma can be a bitch…….something tells me yours is coming.

  • Dana Vigilante

    Dear Maura,

    I just wanted to drop you a line to tell you of the “burdens” of being a member of the Big Girls Club.

    I’m 42 years old, 5’8, 195 lbs and a total knock-out. I am well-educated, well-versed and well-read (three traits you will never possess). I own my own business and make over $160,000.00 a year. I just ran my third marathon. I rock Christian Louboutin’s, Prada and Chanel. I shop at Neiman’s and Saks, Bergdorfs and Henri Bendels. I look phenomenal in my Missoni bathing suit, lounging poolside at Le Sirenuse. I get compliments from people every day, about my style, my personality or just my great outlook (and I do have to admit, it’s a damn great outlook). I have a great boyfriend who constantly tells me how gorgeous my body is. This, coming from a man who has 0% body fat. I drive a two-seater sports car, travel extensively and own a gorgeous home. Yes, Maura, us Big Girls are smart, successful and intelligent (another three traits you will never have).

    Does anyone remember the gorgeous centerfold Glamour magazine did two years ago of the beautiful plus-size women? Or how about the poll asking men who, out of Kate Moss, Kate Winslet and the gorgeous plus-size Kate Dillon, had the best body? Kate Dillon came in first, Kate Winslet came in second, and (what a surprise), Kate Moss came in last!

    Maura…I can always go on a diet, but whats the cure for your being prejudice, rude and without class? Umm….that would be NOTHING. If I were cruel, I would rip your appearance to shreds, but I don’t have the time. I have to run, time for a nice double-cream, pumpkin latte! A gals gotta work hard to keep these gorgeous curves!

    Dana Vigilante,
    Nutley, NJ

  • glo

    Im a manager for a very prominent full figured shop. I’d like to hear her say that out loud in our stores. What an extremely superficial attitude to have.

  • Katherine Confer Jacobs

    Oh, you poor, sensitive “fat” people. We have freedom of speech in this country
    until it offends someone. Maura Kelly was just expressing her opinion. I happen to agree with her whole heartedly. It is repulsive to me to see some
    fat slob waddling down the street. All I can think of is that they have no will
    power (when it comes to eating), and don’t care about the costs that their bad
    health habits will cost the rest of us. “Fat” is not beautiful to most people; it is
    disgusting. Face reality. If one chooses to be fat, then don’t complain when
    those of us who work at staying slender & healthy (I’m 76 and weigh 124 lbs)
    find you to be just a gross, ugly person!

  • Big Man Can

    Well many of you spoke so very well about the horse faced bitch Maura it is hard to top what you all said.
    AS my screen name says, I am a big man.
    As I read some of the comments I can relate with a few of the people writing them. I have been big all my life or as Maura puts, disgustingly big, and gross. F – her!
    Not all big people are lazy. I take care of my farm everyday and all the chores that go with it. I cut wood for heat, carry 6 gallon pails of water to water the animals (two in each hand) and still work 12 hours in my office.
    I guarantee your boney ass couldn’t keep up with me for an hour let alone a whole day.
    As for looks, I have women (yes plural and yes many) who tell me how good looking I am everyday, Pretty women, big, small and everythng in between.
    It is about time people like you stop ridiculing others who have a different appearance. Newsflash bitch…We are alll different.!
    Truthfully, I don’t care to look at those toothpick girls on the runway. They starve themselves nearly to death because people like you keep telling them they are too fat.
    Now lets talk about looks shall we. I have seen beeter heads on a glass of beer. Have you really looked at yourself in a mirror. You sure shooting aint no super model. You may have the opportunity for a photo shoot of before and after plastic surgery. But thats about it. Your body don’t look all that special either. So you’re thinner than some. Whoop dee doo! You ain’t all that!
    How does it feel to have all the hate you give out coming back at you! The one commenter got ir right…Karma is a bitch! THis is just a small piece of what you got coming I am sure.
    And the editors…yeah you got what you wanted. I hear tell negative publicity can be almost as good as possitive. I hope you sold a few more mags. Your karma will come too.
    Why not write something that will raise the conciousness of the world instead of bring it down.

    Yeah, I stooped to your level and said some trash. Can’t say as I feel all that much better. Not that it will matter anyway. This comment probably won’t even make it up. It surely won’t help any of you change the way you see people. So in closing. Ms. Maura…
    Kiss MY Fat ASS!

  • A Big Ass and A Bigger Heart

    So, to you, Maura, it’s all about how someone “looks”? That’s the determining factor in a person’s value as a human being?

    What about women of a different race? Are they disgusting to you? How about women of lesser financial means? Oh, I bet they make you wretch. Or, maybe women of less physical capacity? Those wheelchairs are just so horrible to look at, aren’t they? Here’s a good one–women of lesser mental capacity? Yeah, I bet they give you the creeps, don’t they?

    How about babies? Fat babies? Should we snap their necks as they exit the womb? Afterall, they’re bound to grow up into fat, slovenly, unproductive, Twinkie-stuffers who are aesthetically displeasing to you.

    People come in all varieties, Maura, that’s what makes the world an interesting place. Open your mind to the differences and appreciate the person, not for what they look like, but for who they are and how they are different.

    You don’t know why someone is overweight. You don’t know what struggles they are working through, or falling victim to. Until you know their full story, you have no right to make such short, biased, simplistic assumptions.

    What are horrible, judgemental, shallow person you are.

  • http://n/a Katie

    Not only do your insensitive remarks show just how limited your mind is, they also show exactly what is wrong with society. Since when did it become a crime to look differently than everybody else on television. If Maura has such a huge problem with it, then don’t watch it. I think perhaps we should get her a fat suit and let her walk around for a few weeks and see how it feels to be treated based only on your size. As an overweight person, believe me when I tell you that it is not all about just eating and exercising properly. There are medications (which I take that make me gain weight). And when I have been judged by my weight, I would very much like to throw a chair at that person. Congratulations, Maura. Not only have you managed to completely disgust women, as we are ‘supposed’ to stick together, I am sure that your mother will be very proud. Just for the record, I truly look forward to the day that you get pregnant, stretch marks, and cannot lose the baby weight. I hope you enjoy being called Fatty.

  • Nina

    Wow…how dare someone say such hurtful things! It’s obvious that this MK has very low self esteem issues and has a hard time looking in the mirror. Let me explain this to you…no matter what the size, shape or race of a person, you have no right to speak of them as if they are beneath you or disgusting. Yes people have their opinions but hunny some things should be left unsaid. The fact that you think that overweight people should not act like humans and show love and KISS!! Come on! I mean when I saw your picture a ton of things came to mind that are very hurtful, but like I said something’s should be left unsaid. Also the reason you apologized was because you had to…you looked like an idiot and you really should find a new job because you aren’t that great at what you do OBVIOSLY!!

  • Jinxy

    Marie Clare’s advertisers must be very pleased indeed. I gained 60lbs in less than 3 months from having to take steroids, I was bigger than I had ever been in my life, I felt horrible, looked bad, had high blood pressure – I was sick with the first problem and the weight made me even sicker. I literally had to starve myself for 18 months to get that weight off and 10 lbs more. I’m a size 8 now, I don’t know if I will get to a size 6 again or not, it doesn’t matter anymore. No more high blood pressure meds, diuretics, knee pain, hip pain, back pain or seeing my reflection in a window and cringing. I wanted my old body back and fought like hell to get it back. There are a million reasons why people get big, but that’s no reason to insult them, or make them feel bad. I had zero control of my situation, as do many people with medical conditions. Some people love to eat, or eat things that are fattening, or eat for comfort, whatever the reason if you want to lose the weight you will, and the only way to do that is to expend more calories than you take in. That’s it. I know both sides of it now, and the important thing is to be happy and healthy. The author was cruel, rude, uninformed and really caused a lot of hurt for no good reason. Spicy makes an excellent point, the models are unrealistic, most of them teenagers! The clothing is a fantasy there to sell things made for real people in real sizes, not all size 0. We American’s are bigger than we have ever been we now lead the industrialized nations in Diabetes and weight related health issues. It’s all about living a long healthy life at the end of the day, because every woman is beautiful in her own unique way, we don’t need some columnist from MC to validate any of us, or to try to tear us down.

    Enjoy your career dear, after MC and your “downsizing” I think you’ll find you peaked the day before that article was submitted.

  • Fran

    Shame on Kelly…. shame on the magazine for publishing crap…. we are all here for a purpose but being put down for something like size is despicable. If you critic a television show do it on merit and art form… the problem sounds personal.

  • Beth

    So, Maura Kelly, if you are going to take potshots at people you better be prepared for some scrutiny yourself..Mike and Molly kissing…adorable and sweet..you kissing someone with that Porcine nose, sallow complexion, jacked up teeth and thin/greasy hair… absolutely repulsive! Keep hiding behind your ignorant words and go puke up that last meal. When I grab some mags this month, Marie Claire will not be in my stack.

  • Bob

    I agree with Maura and think she should get a Raise and a Bonus. Fatties are disgusting to look at and watching all that blubber on TV is just gross. Stop eating cases of deep fried Twinkies and exercise more. Fat people should run everywhere they typically drive even if they have a 50 mile commute. If fatty fat fatter people donated all the extra food they eat there would be no more hunger in the world (and health care costs would drop).

  • TracyfromNH

    Katherine Confer Jacobs you sound like an idiot. Do you really think that only overweight people get sick? Are you kidding? I know people who are thin and eat well who get sick a lot more than the heavier people I know. People need to wake up.. a thin person isn’t any healthier than a heavy person..thin people get diabetes. Thin people get asthma. Thin people get cancer. Thin people get heart disease. It’s unfortunate but thin or heavy we are all human and humans get sick. Any thin person out there that wants to use the “healthy” card on this one needs to get a clue. The comments in defense of Maura are only being made because these idiots are just as heartless and closed minded as Maura… period.

  • TracyfromNH

    And Bob..you’re another idiot. Very closed minded to think that all heavy people spend their time eating high fat foods. CLUELESS is the word that best d
    describes you. Well, actually, I have a few other words too but let’s not go there. You know what kind of person you are…you don’t need me to spell it out for you…oh wait.. maybe you do.. stupid people don’t normally have enough sense to read between the lines. Maybe you should run.. you freaking moron.

  • Genie

    So Marie Claire publishes an article about body size/image from an author who has a mental/physical/emotional illness directly related to a warped view of the same subject…don’t know which is more stupid – Maura Kelly or Marie Claire!

    anorexia nervosa – Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight, and an obsessive fear of gaining weight due to a distorted self image[1][2] which may be maintained by various cognitive biases[3] that alter how the affected individual evaluates and thinks about her or his body, food and eating. It is a serious mental illness with a high incidence of comorbidity and the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder.[4]

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anorexia_nervosa

  • Bob

    @TracyfromNH, let me guess, you’re “big boned” with a “great personality” (and we all know what that means). Fat people are way more unhealthy than people who are appropriate weight. The excess fat stresses every organ and every joint and that’s just the start. Tracy; remember to run every time you get your urges for Deep Fried Twinkies.












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