Dawn French hits back at "shameful" weight loss comments
Dawn French has hit back at hurtful comments about her drastic weight loss almost a decade ago, admitting she "never rejected" the size she was.
In 2014, the British comedian and actress dropped over 45kg after undergoing a hysterectomy following a terrifying cancer scare.
The dramatic weight loss came after French's surgeon said she would heal better from the procedure if she lost weight.
At the time, dozens of articles were written about French's transformation, praising her weight loss.
Now, the 65-year-old has taken umbrage with the comments, telling The Times how unfair it is that women are in the public eye are often “reduced” to descriptions of their appearance.
“I have never rejected the bigger woman I have been. Lots of people do it and say, ‘Oh, you look so much better – now you look well.’ And I think, ‘F*** off! Don’t judge that other person who I loved,’” she said.
“[British singer] Alison Moyet is a very good friend and so often she has been reduced to descriptions of her physicality.”
“She’s this giant talent, why reduce her to that? I’m not taking any s*** from anyone about any of it,” she said.
French went on to reflect on the early days of her career, which began in the late 1980s alongside Jennifer Saunders.
Despite the success of their BBC show French and Saunders, they were often described by how they looked, something she says “never” happened to their male colleagues.
“For many years Jennifer [Saunders] and I were always described by how we looked, especially me, because I was the bigger one.”
“It was always about ‘running to fat’ or ‘plump’, and they never said that about any of the male comedians.”
“I absolutely own whatever my size is and I will call myself whatever I want. But if I feel like the intent is to shame me, I will not have it,” French said.
Image credits: Getty Images