There is a strange exception to the progressive movement’s obsession with science, health, and safety — and that strange exception just happens to be one of the biggest problems in the United States: obesity. This morning, the Huffington Post is lauding the “perfect,” “epic clapback” that pop-star Lizzo supposedly delivered in response to criticism from Kanye West.
Here’s that “clapback” that “brought the house down”:
“I feel like everybody in America got my mother****ing name in they mother****ing mouth for no mother****ing reason, I’m minding my fat Black beautiful business” the pop star said.
Here’s what West — who is also black — said:
“Let’s get aside from the fact whether it’s fashion and vogue, which it’s not, or if someone thinks it’s attractive, to each his own, it’s actually clinically unhealthy,” West said.
That’s, er . . . boringly true. Aesthetically, it’s a matter of taste. Clinically, it is, indeed, “unhealthy” to be as fat as Lizzo is. Does anyone doubt that?
In what other circumstance, I wonder, would the Huffington Post behave like this? Suppose West had said: “Let’s get aside from the fact whether it’s fashion and vogue, which it’s not, or if someone thinks it’s attractive, to each his own, smoking is actually clinically unhealthy.” Or: “Let’s get aside from the fact whether it’s fashion and vogue, which it’s not, or if someone thinks it’s attractive, to each his own, the Covid-19 vaccine is statistically proven to help protect you if you contract the disease.” Or: “Let’s get aside from the fact whether it’s fashion and vogue, which it’s not, or if someone thinks it’s attractive, to each his own, refusing to put on sunscreen is medically dangerous.” In which of these cases would this have been deemed a useful response — let alone one worthy of celebration?:
“I feel like everybody in America got my mother****ing name in they mother****ing mouth for no mother****ing reason, I’m minding my tobacco-stained/unvaccinated/sunburned beautiful business”
Don’t get me wrong: “Mind your own business” is a fine sentiment. As a matter of fact, it’s my own sentiment most of the time. If a person wants to be fat, or to smoke, or to drink too much (guilty!), or to decline modern medicine, that’s their decision. But the selective application of this principle utterly baffles me. The tag on the Huffington Post‘s story is “Body Shaming.” Okay, but why is it this type that so upsets contemporary progressives?