When it was brought to our attention that TV One’s new show “Love That Girl” used plus size comedienne Erica Watson’s body in a “before & after” weight loss photo, the plus size community rallied together in support of Ms. Watson and plus size women everywhere.
Whether you agree with TV One’s decision to use the photo or not two things are very clear.
- By placing star of the show Tatyana Ali’s face on the body, the image was used to poke fun at Ms. Watson because of her size.
- TV One and it’s affiliates did not get permission from Erica or her photographer to use the photo.
After receiving emails, tweets and facebook messages from a number of people regarding their decision to pull such a stunt, TV One has released the following statement:
TV One was unaware that “Love That Girl’s” production company used a flier in Monday night’s episode that we now understand included an unauthorized image of Erica Watson. The producers of the comedy have taken the material out of the show, and we have taken it off of our website. We offer our sincere apologies to Erica Watson and are especially sorry that it has caused offense and resulted in hurt feelings when TV One has always worked to present a positive and inclusive portrayal of black Americans of all sizes and shapes, ages and cultural backgrounds.
Thoughts?
Editor-In-Chief, Stephanie Penn-Danforth -- Daily Venus Diva.
Glad to see they took such swift action.
I’m happy to see they responded quickly and apologized.
I to am happy to read that swift action was taken, and i am glad Ms. Waston stood up for herself. She had every right to plan to sue and say what she said. Cleary it was mean to make fun of full figure women, and every plus size woman of every color she feel proud of themselve. We do not have to sit down and take this crap from the entertainment media.
First of all i don’t even “like that show “love that girl, no body on that show is talented on friday and show in order to get a cheap laugh the feel they mus make fun of the fat women of the world. Ms. waston is so right and I am so proud her standing up for heself. I hope this trend continues.
Ms Waston did has inspired me, so many times people even my closted friend and family will put me down and make fun of me becasue of my weight and for a long time I would let them to it because I was fat, but no more. I realize that nobody has the right to put me down becsue of my dress size. Thank you Ms. Waston for making us plus size women pround.
In this day and age, most people don’t even get an apology when they or their children have been wronged. For TV One to step up and show some integrity is a good thing. The part that has me baffled is that as beautiful as Ms. Ali is, this is the only premise she could come up with to showcase her talents?