This story sounds all kinds of hoax-y at first, but The Guardian has (at least somewhat) confirmed the existence of “fat-shaming” cards though ongoing communication with the London and British Transport police. The relevant images have been shared thousands of times online and also stem from the Twitter account of Kara Flourish, who says a stranger approached her on the London tube with a cruel message. In short, a group calling themselves “Overweight Haters Ltd” is handing cards bearing this sentiment:
“It’s not really glandular, it’s your gluttony…
“Our organisation hates and resents fat people. We object to the enormous amount of food resources you consume while the world starves. We disapprove of your wasting NHS money to treat your selfish greed. And we do not understand why you fail to grasp that by eating less you will be better off, slimmer, and happy and find a partner who is not a perverted chubby-lover, or even find a partner at all.
“We object that the beatiful [sic] pig is used as an insult. You are not a pig. You are a fat, ugly human.”
Here’s the damning evidence from Twitter, and it isn’t pretty:
was handed this card on the underground. is hateful + cowardly +could potentially upset people struggling with confidence
— Kara Florish (@kflorish) November 28, 2015
https://twitter.com/kflorish/status/670721922188054528/photo/1
@kflorish pic.twitter.com/gBIvj69WQ1
— Kara Florish (@kflorish) November 28, 2015
Twitter is full of both outrage and support (but mostly outrage) over these cards. Some are suggesting the cards are more about misogyny than actual fat-shaming. That’s not an unfair point to make. We do live in a world of body-double standards (where the famed “dad bod” is so celebrated, and women are idealized if they “bounce back” immediately after giving birth). Only Vin Diesel seems to have a problem with dad bods, but no matter the reason, these cards are pretty rude.
fat-shaming cards being handed out by men to women on tubes-yet another example of men punishing women for using public spaces.
— sarah m 🇵🇸 (@sazza_jay) November 30, 2015
Might start hopping onto trains and handing out cards telling fat-shaming blokes that they're inadequate cowardly pricks who'll die alone
— Michael Hogan (@michaelhogan) December 1, 2015
Reports suggest it's mainly men handing out #OverweightHaters cards on London tube. This isn't just about fat-shaming, it's about #misogyny.
— sarah keenan (@sarahjkeenan) December 1, 2015
Billboards, fat shaming cards. Public shaming is quickly becoming an organized sport.
— Sam Sykes (@SamSykesSwears) December 1, 2015
https://twitter.com/sleezsisters/status/671602138091544576
(Via The Guardian)