Alyssa Milano defends Netflix show Insatiable over ‘fat-shaming’ controversy

Alyssa Milano has jumped to the defence of the new Netflix show Insatiable after it was heavily criticised over allegations of 'fat-shaming'.

On Thursday, the global streaming service released the trailer for the programme, which follows a character called Patty, played by Debby Ryan, who’s relentlessly mocked at school for being overweight.

Patty loses weight over summer following a procedure where she has to have her jaw wired shut and seeks revenge over her classmates, a premise that’s been widely condemned on social media.

Many felt incensed over the implication that a person is only perceived as being worthy of reverence and admiration once they’ve lost weight and become what others would deem as conventionally attractive.

“You have a chance to make creative, engaging, original content from fat people about fat people’s lives and you choose to… put a skinny person in a fat suit and make jokes about how sad her life is and about what a crazy bitch she turns into. That’s so lazy and pathetic,” one person wrote on Twitter.

“Honestly, did anyone who worked on this show talk to a fat person? Like ever?” another person commented.

“This pushes disordered eating AND the fact that you have to lose weight to be ‘better’. Shame on everyone who was involved with this project.”

Adam Cox, a clinical hypnotherapist who specialises in weight loss, explains to The Independent why the show may have an especially negative effect on those who suffer from body image issues.

“The series seems to be entirely based around negative connotations to do with weight, which is inherently harmful to anyone who has struggled with body issues,” he says.

“While we’ve seen many shows and movies encourage body positivity, unfortunately there are still some which aim to perpetuate already harmful stereotypes which do nothing to address these issues at best, and at worst knowingly pursue controversy to gain viewings.

“To do this when people’s mental health may be compromised by such a tactic, especially young people, strikes me as irresponsible and dangerous.”

Toby Ingham, a UKCP registered psychotherapist, explains how the original intention of the show likely became lost in translation.

"The criticism is powerful, passionate and hard to argue against. It does seem as though the programme makers may not have thought this through, though that seems unlikely," he says.

"The criticism picks up on the show making fat a phobic issue that demands 'female obedience,' in Woolf's words. It is hard to come back from that kind of comment. This will stick.

"It is likely that the programme will put pressure on the mental health of young viewers," he continues.

Liam Preston, head of YMCA's 'Be Real' campaign, says that while it's too early to judge the show in its entirety, "the trailer for Insatiable does appear to reinforce the notion that society prefers you when you're slim."

He remains optimistic about the positive influence that the show could have, telling The Independent: "Hopefully, the show will try and tackle this issue sensitively, rather than be an opportunity to roll out tasteless jokes."

Alyssa Milano, who stars in the show, has expressed her opposition to the immense criticism that the programme, which passed on by TV network The CW, has received.

“We are not shaming Patty,” she wrote. “We are addressing (through comedy) the damage that occurs from fat shaming. I hope that clears it up.”

However, critics of Insatiable have responded to Milano’s comments explaining why they believe her view is misguided.

“Lacking identity as a fat person and not feeling like you can pick who you want to be until you become thing? So harmful,” one person replied.

“Fat people have identities, fat people are not these miserable humans, and we deserve more.”

Another person wrote: “I think you need to take a step back and listen to people who have lived the experience of being overweight and take into consideration what they are saying without being so defensive. Their words are important.”

In June, an artist from Oregon wrote a lengthy thread on Twitter outlining the judgement that he is forced to cope with on a daily basis for "being fat".

He explained that he had become self-conscious of almost every single action, from how he chews his food to the way in which strangers look at him in the street.

In April a 19-year-old from Indiana was praised online for the way in which she handled being fat-shamed in a bakery.

The Independent has contacted Netflix for comment.