14 DAY TRIAL // Last week, when pictures of Jessica Simpson looking a bit plumper than usual surfaced in the press and on the Internet, marked the beginning of what is now referred to as “Fat-Gate.” With many celebrities speaking in Jessica’s defense, President Barack Obama is the one to dismiss the issue with a joke, several media outlets are reporting.
While doing an interview with Matt Lauer, Obama joked that he was supposed to be on the cover of the current issue of Us Weekly magazine, expressing disappointment at having the picture of his family replaced by that of Jessica. However, it’s how he chose to end the discussion that got the public’s attention, somehow underlining that Jessica’s weight is not an issue for opprobrium – yet in fewer words and, at the same time, with much better results than the many celebrities who have spoken on the subject.
“President Barack Obama joked that he was crushed to be cut from the cover of Us Weekly to make room for Jessica Simpson. ‘Yeah, it’s a little hurtful,’ he quipped when Matt Lauer showed him the newest issue of Us Weekly, on stands now, featuring a portrait of his family. (Obama is featured in the picture that runs next to the story - which focuses on Michelle - inside the magazine.) ‘You got replaced by Jessica Simpson!’ added Lauer, who sat down with Obama before the Super Bowl aired Sunday on NBC. ‘Who’s in a weight battle, apparently. Oh well!’ Obama said.” Us Weekly writes in its latest issue.
It was the final “Oh well!” that made everyone who paid any attention to the controversial “Is Jessica fat or not” debate finally call it a day and somehow realize that it was not an issue to argue over. Then again, this is also what sister Ashlee and other female stars have been saying ever since this got in the media and was subsequently blown out of proportion, with media outlets such as Fox News running headlines like “Jessica Simpson Shocks Fans with Fuller Figure.”
“All women come in different shapes, sizes, and forms, and just because you’re a celebrity, there shouldn’t be a different standard. Is this something you would say to your wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, or even a friend? I seriously doubt it. How can we expect teenage girls to love and respect themselves in an environment where we criticize a size 2 figure? Now can we focus on the things that really matter.” Ashlee wrote on her MySpace blog.