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Features

The myth of the jolly fat man

Why are fat men seen as cuddly but fat women as a problem?

29 October 2022

9:00 AM

29 October 2022

9:00 AM

After last week’s revelation that James Corden was banned from a New York restaurant for being repeatedly horrible to staff, I’ve been considering the different way fat men and fat women are viewed.

Fat men are invariably seen as jolly – who can imagine a thin Father Christmas? – despite the rollcall of porky evil, from Fatty Arbuckle, abuser of women, to Cyril Smith, abuser of boys.

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