Them: Why don’t you go to the gym?
A competitive bodybuilder shared a body-shaming photo of a fellow gym-goer, and now she’s receiving major criticism. Diana Andrews of London captioned the demeaning picture with the phrase “love handles.”An accompanying slide said, “I bet she’s ordering 🍔 🍔 🍔 for delivery.”
Both remarks went out to over 17,000 followers on Instagram Stories, and many promptly told Andrews off for bullying and fat-shaming. But instead of apologizing, the bodybuilder only made excuses about her cruel remarks. In a now-deleted Facebook post, Andrews explained she took the pictures because the woman was using her phone on the treadmill. “The whole story was turned upside down,” she wrote. “People that know me know I’m not a bully.”
That said, the original post specifically commented on the anonymous woman’s body. The phrase “love handles” doesn’t have many alternative interpretations. Besides, Andrews took that photo using her own phone, so it seems unlikely the message was about making calls at the gym.
Andrews has since changed the privacy settings on her Instagram account, but that hasn’t stopped the growing backlash. Many people believe her actions exemplify why gyms feel intimidating and even hostile.
#DianaAndrews knew what she was doing when she posted that snapchat #BodyShaming People wonder why others are afraid of going to the gym..
Others are comparing her to Dani Mathers, a model who posted nude photos of a woman changing in a gym locker room. Mathers later pled not guilty to one account of invasion of privacy, and the court case is ongoing.
Whatever Andrews intended to say in her Instagram Story, it’s a sad reminder that many people continue to judge women’s bodies in hurtful and meaningless ways. Hopefully her actions don’t discourage other gym members from working out. If anything, Andrews shouldn’t be allowed in that gym for a long, long time.