By Jonah Bennett, DCNF
GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump has been soundly criticized for “fat-shaming” former Miss Universe Alicia Machado for blowing up in size. But as evidenced by a 1997 CNN article covering the episode, it seems that not too long ago, strongly encouraging weight-loss was a well-accepted position to hold.
In 1997, CNN correspondent Jeanne Moos wrote in a humorous lede that when Machado won the title of Miss Universe in 1996, “no one could accuse her of being the size of the universe. But as her universe expanded, so did she, putting on nearly 60 pounds.”
The article focused on how she was training to get back into shape.
Such an opening stands in sharp contrast to coverage by the media of weight-loss nearly 20 years later.
Now, CNN has switched its tune to covering how Machado suffered greatly as a result of Trump’s fat-shaming and also how she is an ardent Clinton supporter.
Huffington Post slammed Trump for being a decades-long “fat-shamer.”
Vox stated that Trump doubled-down on his “fat-shaming” comments when he spoke Tuesday with Fox & Friends to note that her weight gain was a serious issue.
“That person was a Miss Universe person, and she was the worst we ever had, the worst, the absolute worst,” Trump said, referring to Machado. “She was the winner and, you know, she gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem.”
New York Magazine ran a piece expressing shock that Trump refused to apologize for his fat-shaming comments.
But back in 1997, instead of stripping Machado of her title, Trump said he would much rather encourage her to exercise, so she could lose the weight. He even added back in 1997 that he, too, has a problem with eating under pressure.
“Some people when they have pressure eat too much. Like me. Like Alicia,” said Trump, who was executive producer of the Miss Universe Pageant at the time.
“We had a choice of: termination or do this,” he added. “We wanted to do this.”
“This” meant hitting the gym to slim down.
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