Carrie Fisher blasts Star Wars body shamers on Twitter

[niyad]

Star Wars: The Force Awakens


Carrie Fisher blasts Star Wars body shamers on Twitter

The actor and writer says her male co-stars from original trilogy have faced little criticism on social media for their appearance in The Force Awakens

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Carrie Fisher with Harrison Ford in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
‘Youth and beauty are not accomplishments’ … Carrie Fisher with Harrison Ford in JJ Abrams’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Photograph: Allstar/Disney/Lucasfilms



Carrie Fisher has hit out at social media trolls who have criticised her appearance in the new Star Wars film, The Force Awakens. Posting on Twitter on Tuesday, the 59-year-old actor lamented fellow users’ inability to focus on more meaningful aspects of her return to the role of Leia Organa – now a general rather than a princess – for the first time since Return of the Jedi in 1983.

“Please stop debating about whether or not I aged well,” she wrote. “Unfortunately, it hurts all three of my feelings. My body hasn’t aged as well as I have. Blow us.” Fisher later added: “Youth and beauty are not accomplishments, they’re the temporary happy by-products of time and/or DNA. Don’t hold your breath for either.”

The actor, who has made a hugely successful career as a writer and comic in the wake of her early Star Wars fame, argued that her physical appearance should not be used to define her, adding: “My body is my brain bag, it hauls me around to those places and in front of faces where there’s something to say or see.”

Some noted that the writer and comic’s male co-stars from the original Star Wars trilogy, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill, have faced fewer comments about their appearance in JJ Abrams’ critically acclaimed film. But other Twitter users fired abusive barbs – or told Fisher that as a public figure, she should be prepared for negative comments in the online arena.
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http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/dec/30/carrie-fisher-blasts-star-wars-body-shamers-twitter-social-media

[whitefordmd]

1. Isn't this what Twitter does

Frankly, I have little sympathy for her. She is a celebrity and get all the good and bad attention that comes with the role.

[niyad]

11. nice way to entirely miss the point.

[cwydro]

13. Oh wow.

Seriously?

Point totally missed.

[jonno99]

2. K&R - this bears repeating: "Youth and beauty are not accomplishments". Thanks for this post. nt.

[niyad]

12. you are most welcome.

[mucifer]

3. I LOVE Mark Hamill's twitter reply to this:

"Bring it! She doesn't need me or anyone else to defend her- she's just that fierce. Love my movie sis"
https://twitter.com/HamillHimself?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

[radicalliberal]

4. I appreciate Fisher's comments about youth and beauty.

There's physical beauty, and then there's moral ugliness. Many of the social climbers at my high school were pretty girls, but they were ugly on the inside. They were vain, empty-headed, and cruel. I never wanted to date any of them because they were repulsive. Their physical beauty did not impress me.

One day years later, I was browsing through a book on World War II that had plenty of photographic pictures in it. One of the pictures that caught my attention was that of a number of shirtless young men who were standing in military array. They had great physiques. They apparently were in top physical condition. But they weren't soldiers. No, they were Nazi S.S. officers whose mission was to commit mass murder.

By the way, I'm not playing "sour grapes" about bodybuilding. To the contrary, I've spent a small fortune on personal trainers; and I've been pumping iron for years. But I get sick and tired of body shamers. I don't look down on guys who are overweight or slightly built because I realize that body build has absolutely nothing to do with character. What they do or don't do with their bodies is their business, not mine. Unless I'm physically incapacitated, I'll probably pump iron for the rest of my life; but I have no use for Arnold Schwarzenegger when he refers to overweight or slightly built guys as "girlie men." There have been "girlie men" who have shown considerably more courage than he ever would.

[malthaussen]

5. "blow us?"

Is that quote verbatim?

-- Mal

[dsc]

6. Given all of the hoopla about this I figured she must look downright awful

then I watched the film and she looks fine. What is wrong with people. Did they think she would be like Dorian Gray with a portrait to do her aging for her?

[AgadorSparticus]

7. Her critics aren't just intellectually challenged, but are clearly blind too.

My daughter and I just went to see this movie yesterday and Carrie fisher looks normal for her age. She doesn't look hollywood. She looks like my neighbor. And I am thankful that Hollywood is showing women in more normal lighting.

[jonno99]

15. That was my take as well. With all the negative hype I was somewhat dreading (with empathy)

to see how she was doing. And when she appeared on screen, I was taken aback, as her appearance is exactly as you would expect of a woman of her maturity.

We are in serious error in this country with our dismissive attitude towards our more senior citizens. And I don't know how we got to the place what mom and/or dad is shuffled off to the old folks home instead of remaining with the family. Our young especially miss-out when this occurs.

I have much respect for the Asian cultures who revere/respect their elderly.

[Starry Messenger]

8. Carrie Fisher is my spirit animal.

[LooseWilly]

9. The New York Post columnist who said she should quit or be judged - no prize himself

Funny that this man



Thinks that he should deem that women should submit to being judged for their looks.

Glass houses sir...

[niyad]

10. women, of course, are here solely for his pleasure and amusement.

[Chiyo-chichi]

14. That's a man? I thought it was a Jack-o-lantern in a suit.

If he's going to wear a necktie, someone should at least teach him how to tie it properly. And maybe iron that collar.

[jonno99]

16. +1 Pot - meet kettle...nt

[FLPanhandle]

17. It's Hollywood, of course it's all about looks.

She wasn't complaining when her youth and body got her the role back in the 1970's.

[niyad]

18. nice way to miss the point, as usual.