‘Louie’ Tackles the Media’s and Men’s Treatment of the ‘Fat Girl’

For those of you who missed it, here’s a must-see clip of Louis C.K. and Sarah Baker from his hit show “Louie” on the subject of size.

In a powerful seven-minute scene, the comic was able to expose and explore the stereotypes, feelings and attitudes some straight men in our culture still hold about “fat girls.” The dramatic tension is set up when Louie meets a stewardess, Vanessa, early in the episode who is funny, smart, witty and by all indications completely compatible with Louie — yet he refuses to go out on a date with her. Although he also might be judged on the basis of his weight, he is unable to see Vanessa as a potential match or equal. He finally decides to take her out on a coffee date, as a friend, after she gifts him with some pricey tickets to a sports match.

In her final monologue, Vanessa schools Louie on the double standard that persists between men and women when it comes to weight. “I’m picking you. On behalf of all the fat girls, I am making you represent all the guys,” she says. “Why do you hate us so much?”

Watch the scene in full below:

— Posted by Donald Kaufman.