Maria Kang, known for her numerous self-portraits (“selfies”) as well as her fitness advice and techniques, condemned a new trend of plus-size women taking selfies.
Kang is perhaps best known for posting a photo of herself and her three boys, asking people “what’s your excuse?”
Now she says she was banned from Facebook because a post in which she told plus-size women they shouldn’t be posting selfies was labeled as hate speech.
“The popular and unrelenting support received to those who are borderline obese (not just 30-40lbs overweight) frustrates me as a fitness advocate who intimately understands how poor health negatively effects a family, a community and a nation,” she wrote on her blog.
In her post, Kang said she was “annoyed” by the “nearly obese women” who were proud of their bodies and were posing in lingerie.
“We need to change this strange mentality we are breeding in the U.S. and start celebrating people who are a result of hard work, dedication and discipline,” she said. “I’m not bashing those who are proud and overweight, I am empowering those who are proud and healthy to come out and be the real role models in our society. (Vent done)”
Kang said in a follow-up post that she feels completely misunderstood for what happened after her post.
“In our fast-paced world of news media, it’s easier to categorize someone as a ‘fat-shamer’, a ‘hater’ or even a ‘bully’, without understanding the full story.,” she said. :Somewhere in this social media frenzy, I have been called all of these names after using a popular catchphrase on a motivational fitness poster and now for my vent on our obesity crisis in America.”
But Kang said she understands the deeper issues after previously witnessing the abuse of prescription pills and struggling herself with a food addiction.
Moreover, Kang said her intense personal experience included her mother being unable to attend Kang’s wedding because she was rushed to the emergency room with sickness related to obesity.
“Many put off what is important for tomorrow because of the short-term stressful or satisfying moments they experience today,” Kang said. ”Maybe one doesn’t feel their weight and unhealthy habits are taking a toll now, but it’s not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’ your organs, bones and overall body succumb to the additional pressure you are applying to it. Maybe you won’t be able to run with your children. Maybe you will miss out on special events. Maybe you might not witness your child’s wedding day…”
