New Netflix series trailer draws accusations of fat shaming

Netflix has launched a trailer for a new show due to air on the streaming service 10 August.

Insatiable follows Debby Ryan as teen protagonist Patty, nicknamed Fatty Patty by peers.

Patty is bullied for her weight until an injury requires she get her jaw wired shut. This causes her to drastically lose weight.

She returns to school with a new look and is immediately treated differently by peers. But instead of basking in new-found acceptance, Patty embarks on a path of revenge.

The trailer for the dark comedy has drawn criticism for featuring Debby Ryan in a fat suit. Online, people branded the show as offensive and suggested it promotes fat shaming.

Comparisons were also drawn to other Netflix show 13 Reasons Why for its dealing with bullying and revenge.

this is a good example of why i grew up insecure and thought i would never be loved because of my size. give us a story where the fat girl stays fat, struggles, but learns to accept her body and overcomes societal standards. #insatiable https://t.co/v9WchYgKVG

— lacey (@geamxs) July 19, 2018

This is the oldest trope in the book of fat tropes. Fat kids becoming thin and attractive to prove all of the abusers they encountered wrong.

— A.L. (@FatBodyPolitics) July 19, 2018

This is trash. Netflix I expected a company that’s prided itself on changing the faces in entertainment and inclusivity to be better to fat people. This story like is uncreative and fatphobic. It’s also incredibly insulting to attempt to tell an story of a fat women with a thin

— Savannah✨ (@GirlcraftWorld) July 19, 2018

actress. You have the insight, budget and audience to do better. You really let us all down here. I hope you realize how hard it’ll be for me to feel good about you as a company after this. Do better. And fire whoever pushed this.

— Savannah✨ (@GirlcraftWorld) July 19, 2018

This doesn’t even touch on the story about being bullied and seeking revenge. I was severely bullied in school and no one pushed me to seek revenge because it’s not healthy and doesn’t make it better. With the given tragedies in schools I’d expect you to be more careful.

— Savannah✨ (@GirlcraftWorld) July 19, 2018

Actress Alyssa Milano, who plays Patty's mother, hit back at criticism. She wrote on Twiiter, "We are not shaming Patty. We are addressing (through comedy) the damage that occurs from fat shaming."