Netflix's new series 'Insatiable' faces a tidal wave of backlash for fat-shaming

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  • Netflix just released a trailer for its new series "Insatiable" starring Debby Ryan.
  • The show tells the story of Patty, a high school girl bullied for being fat who decides to have her jaw wired shut in order to lose weight.
  • "Now that she finds herself suddenly thin Patty is out for payback against anyone who has ever made her feel bad about herself," the synopsis says.
  • People are angry and disappointed to see a TV show depict a fat woman as undesirable. 
  • Many are saying it promotes a toxic message of fat-shaming aimed at teenagers. 

Netflix just dropped the first trailer for its new "dark, twisted revenge comedy" called "Insatiable," starring Debby Ryan in the lead role of Patty. Within hours of the first footage's release, people are already calling on Netflix to stop promoting the "toxic" and "fat-shaming" series. 

In the trailer's opening shots, Ryan can be seen in a fat suit as she talks in voice over about the woes of being the "Fatty Patty" at high school. Then it's revealed that Patty has her jaw wired shut in order to lose weight and plans on exacting revenge upon those who bullied her in the past.

"Having my jaw wired shut lost me more than just my summer vacation," Patty says in the trailer. "Now, I could be the former fatty who turned into a brain. Or an athlete. Or a princess. No — I'd rather have revenge."

Debby Ryan's character is nicknamed "Fatty Patty" by bullies in "Insatiable." Netflix

Many people are getting vocal about the problematic nature of the plotline and the way Ryan dons a fat suit for the role. Several of the responses to Netflix's tweet of the trailer started the conversation.

—Savannah✨ (@GirlcraftWorld) July 19, 2018 —MD (@manika0098) July 19, 2018—Angie Manfredi (@misskubelik) July 19, 2018

Kristin Chirico, a senior producer at BuzzFeed, tweeted about the trailer's harmful messaging.

—Kristin Chirico (@lolacoaster) July 19, 2018—Comfy Fat (@comfyfat) July 19, 2018—Kate Lopez (@TheMusician94) July 19, 2018

Others went the sarcastic route. Style blogger Chloe Elliot was particularly emphatic about the show being targeted towards a younger audience.

—Chloe Elliott (@ChloeInCurve) July 19, 2018

Many are saying "Insatiable" bolsters stereotypes about fat people and the harmful link between media's portrayal of "thin" equating with desirability. It also relies on the trope seen across movies and TV of characters losing weight in order to become "popular" or "attractive."

—robbie (@sapphicouture) July 19, 2018—Meghan Tonjes (@meghantonjes) July 19, 2018—s✨ (@banglagyal) July 19, 2018—AllGo (@canweallgo) July 19, 2018

Netflix didn't immediately respond to INSIDER's request for comment.

The first season of "Insatiable," with 12 total episodes, is slated to premiere on Netflix on August 10. Watch the first full trailer below.

For more great stories, head to INSIDER's homepage.

Disclosure: Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Business Insider's parent company, Axel Springer, is a Netflix board member.

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