A Massachusetts swimwear designer has faced withering criticism online after being accused of “fat-shaming” Amy Schumer over the comedian’s appearance on the cover of InStyle magazine’s first-ever “beauty issue.”
“It was important to me to have someone representing beauty who is representative of more than a small part of the population,” InStyle editor-in-chief Laura Brown told WWD of the choice to feature Schumer on the cover. “Also, she has a voice. And that is really what I rely on and prioritize in every single person in the magazine. The fact that she looks freaking hot in a one-piece is no small delight.”
However, when the magazine’s official Instagram account posted a shot of the cover, at least one commenter said Schumer was the wrong choice.
“Come on now!” wrote Dana Duggan of South Shore Swimwear in Massachusetts. “You could not find anyone better for this cover? Not everyone should be in a swimsuit.”
The swimwear designer quickly faced a deluge of commenters who accused Duggan of “fat-shaming” the actress.
“Not everyone should be in a swimsuit?! Swimwear is not just for women who are a size 2!” wrote one commenter. “She is a real woman with a real body. Bravo to @instylemagazine for showcasing her. She looks beautiful.”
“You’re shallow and tacky,” another commenter wrote to Duggan. “And your swimwear looks like crap.”
After facing a barrage of criticism, the designer reportedly set her social media accounts to private, according to the Daily Mail.
But Duggan stood by her initial comment in a statement to the Huffington Post, telling the outlet that Schumer looks “like a pig” and that she was simply practicing her right to freedom of speech.