Boycotting the News Over a Plus Size Reporter?

By Danceswithfat @danceswithfat

Demetria Obilor is a recently hired reporter for ABC Dallas.

Purported viewer Jan Shedd took to Twitter to throw a tantrum:

“Has anyone seen Channel 8’s new morning traffic reporter? Her name is Demetria Obilor & she’s a size 16/18 woman in a size 6 dress and she looks ridiculous. I understand that when I watch Channel 8  I’m going to get biased reporting and political correctness, but clearly they have taken complete leave of their senses. I’m not going to watch Channel 8 anymore. “

Let’s get some shit settled immediately:

I don’t know what size Ms. Obilor is and I don’t care, she is wearing the hell out of that dress. It looks like it was literally made for her. I would support her if she wanted to wear that dress every single day.

As always, you can see someone’s true meaning by replacing “political correctness” with “treating people with respect.” Apparently ABC news treating people with respect is something to which Jan also objects.

Notice that Jan was willing to watch the news despite “biased reporting” but a plus size Black reporter is a deal breaker for her. WTF Jan?

And in a world that is built on systemic racism, we have to be clear that this could be intersectional oppression – that it is likely to include both the reporters size, and her race. Especially when women who are thin and white aren’t facing the same criticism for the same behavior:

Ainsley Earhardt of Fox and Friends

As Ebony reported, people were all over this nonsense on Twitter, and Ms. Obilar posted a video to Twitter thanking people for their support:

Addressing the haters, showing love to my ppl 💗 and thank you @chancetherapper 💯 pic.twitter.com/ks2cTSuLLe

— Demetria Obilor (@DemetriaObilor) November 3, 2017

If you find yourself upset about how a reporter looks, that’s an opportunity to examine your own biases, not to take to Twitter so that you can advertise them.

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