MINDY KALING TAKES A NICK AT FAT-SHAMERS: Mindy Kaling, the co-creator of ‘Never Have I Ever’ and the star of‘Mindy Project’, called out her colleague for commenting on her weight. The forty-something star was 25 back then when a fellow writer at NBC sized her up and claimed that she would do well if she lost around 7 kilos. It was a casual, almost flippant, remark, but it left a ‘devastating’ effect on Kaling, who was extremely sensitive about her body weight. She realised that people often thought they were entitled to comment on someone’s physical appearance and express their displeasure if someone didn’t fit into their idea of beauty or size. Since that sobering episode, Kaling has taken it upon herself to write stories and characters that don’t cater to popular ideals of superlative beauty. Perhaps, we should all take a leaf from Kaling’s life and learn not to make snide remarks about someone else’s physical attributes. And if someone still can’t help commenting on your size, just call them out like how Kaling is doing right now. [COMMENT BY: Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Assistant Editor Features]
Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times/TNS