This archive report was first published on 5 December 2019.
'They Survive on Photoshop': Huddah Monroe Faces Backlash for Body Shaming ¶
December 5, 2019
Kenyan socialite Huddah Monroe has found herself at the center of a controversy after making derogatory comments about plus-size women, comparing them to elephants.
Monroe, known for her petite figure, took to social media to share photos of American rapper Lizzo, calling out plus-size women for promoting obesity.
"NOBODY SHAMING. I KNOW I POST A LOT OF SEMI-NUDE PHOTOS MYSELF BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD PROMOTE OBESITY AND SAY THAT SHE'S CONFIDENT. CALL A SPADE A SPADE AND NOT A BIG SPOON," she wrote in one of her posts.
However, her comments did not go unnoticed, with several Kenyan celebrities speaking out against her remarks.
Plus-size model and media personality Neomi Nganga shared a photo of Lizzo and called out Monroe for being heartless, saying, "DID I HEAR SOMEONE CALL HER (LIZZO) ELEPHANT??? ~ ~"
Nganga went on to say, "Don't you have a more acceptable and civil way of expressing or sharing your opinions without insulting?"
She also questioned Monroe's intentions, saying, "You claim to empower youth, are you now going to filter by size?"
Local female personalities such as Amina Abdi, Saumu Mbuvi, and Kambua shared the same sentiments, with many calling out Monroe for her thoughtless comments.
"It's so sad. What does it cost you to be kind?" asked Kate Actress.
"When God gives you such a platform, you find kinder ways to address issues, you can talk about obesity without being offensive," she added.
Monroe responded to Nganga's comments, saying, "LMFAO! Not someone. HUDDAH. I asked a simple question why is it ok to shame skinny women and glorify phat, FAT and call it curvy. Plump or thick when it's FAT! Elephant size, gazelle size, lioness size. All are beautiful. But let's not glorify others and downplay others coz we think it's ok. Let's promote a healthy lifestyle."
