Too fat to fly: The Kevin Smith story

[Voltron]

That Simpson's clip fit this so well.

[plastroncafe]

Originally Posted by Krutch

I love Kevin and all, but, doesn't anyone else think that he's taking this a bit too seriously? He seems like one of the most easy going guys on the planet. And he himself constantly makes fun of his weight. But the second someone else does he makes a big deal out of it? I dont know. I'm not an overweight dude but I'm sure its a little embarrassing. But still, I dont think its as big of deal as hes making it out to be.

When a company commits a blatant PR Nightmare of a faux pas at your expense, you be sure to let us know.

[Brodie]

Originally Posted by Krutch

I love Kevin and all, but, doesn't anyone else think that he's taking this a bit too seriously? He seems like one of the most easy going guys on the planet. And he himself constantly makes fun of his weight. But the second someone else does he makes a big deal out of it? I dont know. I'm not an overweight dude but I'm sure its a little embarrassing. But still, I dont think its as big of deal as hes making it out to be.

I dont think youve read into some of the other stuff. Like any of my previous posts. Where even he's stated in all his blogs that hes fine with being called fat, because he knows it. But its the fact of it being such an embarrassing outing, which wasn't his biggest gripe. He was moreso bothered when it happened to the younger girl.

[gobo]

Originally Posted by Krutch

I love Kevin and all, but, doesn't anyone else think that he's taking this a bit too seriously?

Taking everything too seriously is the first rule in the book. What book? The unwritten book of "press-whoring". It's apparent that's what he's doing here as he regularly brings up how much he loves the spotlight. This is more an attention thing for him than it is an "oh god, the embarassment has scarred me for life!" thing. Still, I think he's picked a perfect time to blow **** out of proportion.

[Warhorse]

Originally Posted by Turo602

Kevin Smith is badass. Wheres Jay when you need him.

Probably got arrested at the airport for disturbing the peace!

[Krutch]

Originally Posted by gobo

Taking everything too seriously is the first rule in the book. What book? The unwritten book of "press-whoring". It's apparent that's what he's doing here as he regularly brings up how much he loves the spotlight. This is more an attention thing for him than it is an "oh god, the embarassment has scarred me for life!" thing. Still, I think he's picked a perfect time to blow **** out of proportion.

Yeah, I guess thats true. He does have that new movie coming out...

[Brodie]

Clearly, the best way to market a movie is to draw attention to the fact that you're publically ostrasized due to your size.

[Cure]

I'm pretty sure this is not a publicity stunt. He's famous enough as it is. Thinking it is is kinda cynical and dumb.

[Newton Gimmick]

Any publicity is good publicity. Smith knows that.

As for the whole issue, I could see it making you mad, but fat people know the deal with airplanes. Buy two seats if you're too much of a fatty. There are rules. Deal with it.

I don't think fat people should be discriminated against, but at some point you have to face facts. A few years ago, I felt bad for this poor fat lady who wanted to ride a roller coaster. She tried hard to buckle the seat belt, but couldn't. Finally an attendant came over and after about 10 minutes, he couldn't get it around her either. She had to get off the ride. She was pissed, but you know what? She was too fat.

"They should make seats for fat people."

No, they shouldn't. Fat isn't a handicap. Unless you have some rare disease.

As for this being a PR Nightmare? Doubt it. Southwest might be trying to make good, but nobody is not flying as a result of this. Smith's demographic isn't that big nor is it that powerful. Plus Southwest is king of the sky these days for most folks anyway.

So again, we go back to what's the point of all this? Smith fighting for fatties everywhere? Pissed off that they didn't respect his celebrity? Ah, no... Attention. Publicity.

After all, sounds like he was treated pretty good. He got another flight and a $100 voucher. I've had WORSE happen to me at the airport just because of regular airport drama and got nothing at all.

It seems like the guy is looking to drum up attention. I doubt this is going to help "Cop Out" in any way, but it gets Smith's name out there, which is probably a positive since this movie is looking to flop anyway, no?

[Sewer Bull]

Originally Posted by Newton Gimmick

After all, sounds like he was treated pretty good. He got another flight and a $100 voucher. I've had WORSE happen to me at the airport just because of regular airport drama and got nothing at all.

And that's one of his points. He apparently got that voucher because he is popular. Common crowd usually gets nothing.

[Duke]

This just doesn't seem like that big of a deal to me. He normally purchases 2 seats because he knows he needs 2 seats. He even purchased 2 seats for this flight. But when he decided he wanted to take an earlier flight and went to standby for it, they didn't have 2 seats available and the pilot was like you require 2 seats to fly and we don't have 2 available at this time therefore you have to take another flight. How is that any different than his normal situation? I guess the flight attendant or boarding staff could have checked to see if the plane had 2 seats next to each other before allowing him on the plane but that's the only thing they might have did wrong.

[Leo656]

I'm a huge Smith fan, but he takes a lot of things too seriously. Remember how he ripped apart that film critic, both online and on the radio the next day, for walking out of Clerks 2 because the donkey show scene offended him? Yeah Kevin, it was unprofessional, but the guy had a right to voice his displeasure and disgust (at something I found hilarious, but whatever).

So he's too fat to fit in a seat now (the Post had a picture from an interview last year with him where he was easily twice as big as Stryker's posted pic). I know I'll get ripped as "insensitive", but I can't help it. This guy needs help and I don't think the airline is at fault as much as he is, for not realizing he has a serious, SERIOUS medical condition that he needs to address. I know he loves playing "jolly fat guy" but seriously, most people that big have emotional or psychological reasons for being overweight, and they need help.

My parents were both overweight, almost everyone in my family is diabetic and a lot of them die of heart disease. That's a huge reason why I got into fitness at a young age, and more recently became certified as a trainer (even though I'm not working in the field yet).

Some people need help, and if you weigh 300 pounds or have a crappy body fat percentage it's likely NOT glandular. It's likely laziness, depression, emotional eating, or just plain "don't-give-a-damn" syndrome, like this guy. Kev needs help, and denial (or worse, acceptance i.e. "I'm a big fattie, deal with it") is going to kill him if he doesn't at least accept the fact that he needs help.

Watching my father have a massive heart attack when I was 10 (and he was "only" about 50) scared the hell out of me. Maybe Smith should take a walk through Deborah Heart And Lung Center here in lovely NJ, and talk to someone whose had a triple bypass operation, before he gets mad about getting denied an airplane seat. Just sayin'.

I do love Kev, I hope he gets the help he needs, and soon. I just get really pissed about overweight people who would rather get indignant than healthy, like they're crippled and helpless. I also hate women who would rather starve themselves skinny than eat right and exercise, since that's even more dangerous than being overweight. But nobody has the right to blame others for the lifestyle choices that you yourself make, and the consequences of those choices.

Wanna get on that plane? Then start doin' them bicycle crunches. That simple. But don't cry about it.

[Koi]

I bet this would make a good Volcanic Asteroid thread about physical health...

Anyhow, if he knew he was too big and ordered two seats because of his "size" then it is his fault. He can go ahead and get upset, it's good for our viewing pleasures anyhow.

[Brodie]

Are you people insane? Its been stated numerous times that he bought two seats so he could be away from people, never out of necessity of being obese.

And leo, just fyi, he didn't rip apart the critic for walking out, he did it because the guy started yelling about his disgust during a screening.

[Koi]

Originally Posted by Brodie

Are you people insane? Its been stated numerous times that he bought two seats so he could be away from people, never out of necessity of being obese.

Oh. Well that makes things a tad different.

[Leo656]

Originally Posted by Brodie

And leo, just fyi, he didn't rip apart the critic for walking out, he did it because the guy started yelling about his disgust during a screening.

Thanks, been a while. I knew it was something or other, but I swear that he did chastise the guy additionally on the radio for walking out because it was "unprofessional". But yes, he was mainly pissed at the guy yelling "That's it! First movie I've walked out of in 30 f***ing years!"

Funniest thing was that the movie that pushed him too far was Clerks 2, and not Jersey Girl.

[Leonardo Mystic]

Originally Posted by Leo656

... most people that big have emotional or psychological reasons for being overweight, and they need help.

Some people need help, and if you weigh 300 pounds or have a crappy body fat percentage it's likely NOT glandular. It's likely laziness, depression, emotional eating, or just plain "don't-give-a-damn" syndrome, like this guy. Kev needs help, and denial (or worse, acceptance i.e. "I'm a big fattie, deal with it") is going to kill him if he doesn't at least accept the fact that he needs help.

Wanna get on that plane? Then start doin' them bicycle crunches. That simple. But don't cry about it.

You have a lot of nerve to go spouting this off. To think you know what or why a person of size is how they are. I am sick of reading the insensitiveness of the issue and all the jokes directed towards people of size. It's not funny.

[The Stryker]

Originally Posted by Leonardo Mystic

You have a lot of nerve to go spouting this off. To think you know what or why a person of size is how they are. I am sick of reading the insensitiveness of the issue and all the jokes directed towards people of size. It's not funny.

Even Kevin Smith himself is making fat jokes.

Also, It's pretty easy to figure out why most fat people are fat. It's called food.

[Sewer Bull]

Not that I'm of Kevin Smith's size, but I recently noticed a belly forming down there. So I decided to completely change my diet recently. Cut off sugar, bread and other carbohydrates, in favor of more vegetables. I lost 15 pounds within the last two weeks just on that. So, if you want it, you can do it.

Kevin Smith should set a good example for all those fat nerds, by losing a few pounds, instead of embracing his major weakness. Just like Peter Jackson, who looked like that a few years ago...



...and now:

[Leo656]

Originally Posted by Leonardo Mystic

You have a lot of nerve to go spouting this off.

You're right, I do. And I'm not trying to be funny, I'm simply a pragmatist. I have nothing against overweight people from a sense that, I wish them no harm and want them to take the steps to get their lives together. That's why I became certified as a trainer, because most people DO want help, they DO want to change, they just need someone to show them the right way.

But there's also the truth that many people don't want to accept, which is that making excuses not to get well and expecting everyone to bend over backwards for you because you have a "disability" is not a realistic expectation. Obesity has been proven to be not only completely preventable almost 99% of the time, but carries far greater risks than smoking, drinking or drug abuse all by itself. Almost all forms of cancers have some link to the foods we eat and how our individual bodies process and/or store energy that we take in.

There is a solution that's proven to work for everyone, and it's not liposuction, gastric bypass surgery or the Atkins diet; it's called education mixed with a positive attitude, a desire to see change, and a commitment to take the steps to get there, along with the understanding that you're worth the effort.

Both my parents had lifelong weight issues; my Dad's constant struggles with diabetes and heart disease have been mentioned numerous times on the board, so it's not like I'm an insensitive bastard. It's just that too many people would rather cry about their problems and how everyone owes them a favor, rather than make a positive change. It's not just overweight people (being underweight and malnourished is actually far more dangerous), I have little patience with that sort of attitude coming from anyone.