Everything That Upset the Internet This Week

Date July 21, 2018

What’s outraging the Internet this week? A baby girl’s piercing, an able bodied A-List actor and a new Netflix series about a character named “Fatty Patty.” Here’s everything you need to know:

Kylie Jenner showcases Stormi’s pierced ears

THE STORY: Earlier this month, Kylie Jenner posted a video of herself cuddling her and Travis Scott’s daughter, Stormi Webster. In the clip, fans noticed that the five-month-old had her ears pierced.

THE REACTION:

Crazy idea: don’t impose your painful aesthetic preferences on the bodies of babies who have no say https://t.co/ACN56EwFAc

— Vonny Leclerc (@vonny_bravo) July 18, 2018

I don't wanna get into the thing abt kylies baby BUT.. when I got my ears pierced there was a family there getting a baby pierced and she was crying so loudly :( it was really sad and the lady there told me she really doesn't like to pierce babies but she can't refuse

— naps (@seyoonic) July 19, 2018

I HATE it when I see children, with their ears pierced. Why would you want to hurt your baby/toddler? Why would you want to do something to them, they may not want doing? It’s horrid. People who follow Khloe and Kylie won’t know any better, probably follow suit to get their kids

— L A U R E N | (@laurensophiaf) July 12, 2018

RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: Voices of opposition were quick to hop in and share their own experiences, pointing out that piercing children’s ears is common practice in some Spanish-speaking, African and Indian communities. “Hispanics pierce their babies ears way before that sometimes,” one Twitter user pointed out, “Stop calling her a bad mom and move on with your lives !!!”

That said, there are some good points made here. Sure, it’s not uncommon for parents to pierce their baby’s ears—but that doesn’t mean people can’t challenge the norm. Maybe we should reconsider holding off on body modification until a child is old enough to understand and give consent. (Though, I low-key wish my mother pierced my ears when I was a baby. It would have saved me a lot of pain and irritation later in life.)

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson plays a disabled character in Skyscraper

THE STORY: The former WWE icon’s latest blockbuster hit has him playing an amputee with a prosthetic leg.

THE REACTION:

I think that it's wrong by Hollywood to used able bodied actors in roles that could have gone to a disabled actor or actress and having actors like @TheRock and others have fake disabilities give those with disabilities the chance

— Andrew Attenborough (@wheelguy09) July 19, 2018

why are we having people play disabled characters when there are disabled actors waiting for a chance to shed light on their disability . if we’re going to get mad over the lgbt community not getting a part . it should b that same energy for disabled actors .

— . (@_tinkerbelle__) July 17, 2018

When someone says that disabled actors should play disabled characters and you respond by saying “Then all doctors should play doctors.” you’re missing the point. You’re comparing a job to part of someone’s identity.

— Casey (@HowCaseySeesIt) July 17, 2018

RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: This is tricky, especially when people start drawing comparisons to the backlash Scarlett Johansson faced for being cast as a transgender man. I think that Dwayne Johnson—who’s among the most bankable stars in Hollywood right now—has done his best with navigating this complex casting decision. Before the film’s premier, Johnson joined the Ruderman Family Foundation, a leading voice in the call for inclusion and opportunity for persons with disabilities in the entertainment industry. In a video posted to his social channels, Johnson said Hollywood has excluded characters and actors with disabilities for too long.

“Our industry has a responsibility to tell inclusive stories, and I hope my character in ‘Skyscraper’ is an example of that commitment,” Johnson said. “I certainly encourage the entire (entertainment) industry to take steps forward to audition and cast actors with disabilities to play characters with and without disabilities. Disability is an essential piece of diversity, and our characters and actors should definitely 100 percent reflect this.”

On the flip side, I recommend reading this open letter that Paralympian actress Katy Sullivan wrote to Dwayne Johnson for Deadline.

Netflix announces new TV show Insatiable

THE STORY: Netflix dropped the trailer and announced the release date (August 10) for a new high school dark comedy. The series stars Debby Ryan as “Fatty Patty,” a teenager who loses weight and seeks revenge on those who bullied her.

THE REACTION:

give us a story line where a fat girl stays fat, learns to accept her body, fucks all societal standards of beauty, and fucking slaysss. Tired of the "fat girl loses weight and becomes hot" trope.

it's old.
do something new.

— shay. (@fluffyskittles) July 19, 2018

Good morning to everyone except Debby Ryan and the people at Netflix that thought Insatiable was even a remotely good idea

— carly (@ylrac) July 20, 2018

Really…..so she wasn't able to take revenge until she was "conventionally attractive"? This is disgusting! You are the face of the Women's Movement and THIS? Shame on you!

— Amber Victoria (@thecursedempath) July 19, 2018

RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: Alyssa Milano, who stars in the show alongside Debby Ryan, tweeted in response to one of the show’s trolls: “We are not shaming Patty. We are addressing (through comedy) the damage that occurs from fat shaming. I hope that clears it up. Also, this article does a good job of explaining it more.” Ryan didn’t address the online criticism head-on, but highlighted a section of the Teen Vogue article Milano referenced and tweeted it to her followers.

https://t.co/UIxiUYL2jp pic.twitter.com/Irkek4j22e

— debbyryan (@DebbyRyan) July 20, 2018

Yeah…I’m not sure how much I’m buying into Teen Vogue‘s take. While it’s exciting to see a female protagonist revel in revenge, I’m on the team that this whole “fat girl gets hot” trope is pretty tired. And, you know, problematic. (Hi Monica Geller! ? ). Twitter user Alexandra Green, however, found a way for the show to fix itself: “I think if 1) she suffers consequences for her violence 2) she regains the weight and is fine with it (cause she only lost it as the result of assault) then the film will actually say something interesting.” I totally agree.