--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why is it controversial to talk about the…" description: "\"Why is it controversial to talk about the fact that fat people deserve to take up space and deserve to be sexy?\" — Tess Holliday" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/tess-holliday-5545_controversial_why-is-it-controversial-to-talk-about-th_190824.jpg" --- # Why is it controversial to talk about the fact that fat… ![“Why is it controversial to talk about the fact that fat people deserve to take up space and deserve to be sexy?” quote by Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/tess-holliday-5545_controversial_why-is-it-controversial-to-talk-about-th_190824.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/tess-holliday-5545_controversial_why-is-it-controversial-to-talk-about-th_190824.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/tess-holliday-5545_controversial_why-is-it-controversial-to-talk-about-th_190824.jpg) > “Why is it controversial to talk about the fact that fat people deserve to take up space and deserve to be sexy?” [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It challenges societal norms that marginalize larger bodies, asserting their right to presence and desirability. **In simple terms:** Large bodies deserve space and sexuality. Key Takeaway Embrace all bodies, reject stigma. Themes body positivity inclusion sexuality social norms Mood empowering defiant Type activist personal When to use this quote - fashion shows - social media campaigns - personal relationships Key Concepts intersectionality self‑acceptance media representation Questions to Reflect On - How does visibility affect self‑esteem? - What role does media play in shaping body standards? A Different Perspective Critics may argue it overlooks health concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Controversial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sexy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexy/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) ## Related quotes > [The real issue that I have is the erasure people are trying to do with my very valid feelings in regard to how plus-size…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/the-real-issue-that-i-have-is-the-erasure-people-are-trying-to-do/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [You deserve to take up space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/you-deserve-to-take-up-space/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [Somewhere underneath it all, I know he doesn't deserve to take up space in my brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susane-colasanti/somewhere-underneath-it-all-i-know-he-doesn-t-deserve-to-take-up/) [Susane Colasanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susane-colasanti/) > [I think the media in general hasn't been very kind to fat women or fat people. We see so many insensitive portrayals of plus-sized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-purser/i-think-the-media-in-general-hasn-t-been-very-kind-to-fat-women-or/) [Shannon Purser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-purser/) > [I have big friends who won't go swimming because they're too embarrassed about it. I feel that's such a shame, because actually people should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-have-big-friends-who-won-t-go-swimming-because-they-re-too/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [People always had something to say about the fact I was odd looking, bigger than other people, that I was awkward. When I discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/people-always-had-something-to-say-about-the-fact-i-was-odd-looking/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [Of course there are fat French women. There are fat people everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireille-guiliano/of-course-there-are-fat-french-women-there-are-fat-people-everywhere/) [Mireille Guiliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireille-guiliano/) > [“Overeating is the addiction of choice of carers, and that's why it's come to be regarded as the lowest-ranking of all the addictions. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/overeating-is-the-addiction-of-choice-of-carers-and-that-s-why-it-s/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [“Fat people are funny … until obesity pays your loved one a visit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/fat-people-are-funny-until-obesity-pays-your-loved-one-a-visit/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Fat people are the only people you can still make fun of in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralphie-may/fat-people-are-the-only-people-you-can-still-make-fun-of-in-this/) [Ralphie May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralphie-may/) > [Our cultural discussion of fat bodies and how we clothe them has nothing to do with health concerns, the obesity epidemic, or the comfort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-armintrout/our-cultural-discussion-of-fat-bodies-and-how-we-clothe-them-has/) [Jennifer Armintrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-armintrout/) > [The general impression about fat people is that they are romantic, funny and good dancers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satish-kaushik/the-general-impression-about-fat-people-is-that-they-are-romantic/) [Satish Kaushik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satish-kaushik/) > [The perception of fat people in America is that they're fat, therefore they're dumb, they're lazy, and they must stink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralphie-may/the-perception-of-fat-people-in-america-is-that-they-re-fat-therefore/) [Ralphie May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralphie-may/) > [I am proud to be called the Queen of Mean, and I never mince my words - especially when it comes to fat people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hopkins/i-am-proud-to-be-called-the-queen-of-mean-and-i-never-mince-my-words/) [Katie Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hopkins/) > [I don't want to lose weight to live long or be healthy. I just want to be able to make fun of fat people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segura/i-don-t-want-to-lose-weight-to-live-long-or-be-healthy-i-just-want-to/) [Tom Segura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segura/) ## More by Tess Holliday > [Loving yourself is a journey, not a destination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/loving-yourself-is-a-journey-not-a-destination/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [I firmly believe that a big part of the obsession with women's thinness comes from the same place as male power fantasies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/i-firmly-believe-that-a-big-part-of-the-obsession-with-women-s/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [One thing I think constantly is if brands like Gucci can make plus-size menswear, then why can't we see it for women?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/one-thing-i-think-constantly-is-if-brands-like-gucci-can-make-plus/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [For so long advertising hasn't been inclusive when it comes to plus sizes which is crazy to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/for-so-long-advertising-hasn-t-been-inclusive-when-it-comes-to-plus/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [Being able to love who I was, while also understanding that I deserved to be treated with kindness, helped me create a more positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/being-able-to-love-who-i-was-while-also-understanding-that-i-deserved/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [I love layers. And I definitely love boots and hats, I have a ridiculous amount.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/i-love-layers-and-i-definitely-love-boots-and-hats-i-have-a/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [I have no friends from high school. That was probably the reason I ended up dropping out, and I dealt with that by eating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/i-have-no-friends-from-high-school-that-was-probably-the-reason-i/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [When you become an adult and you have a choice of who to have in your life, if someone's hurting you and making you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/when-you-become-an-adult-and-you-have-a-choice-of-who-to-have-in-your/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [I mean, if people still want to hire my 34-year-old fat butt for campaigns and let me be myself then I'm all for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/i-mean-if-people-still-want-to-hire-my-34-year-old-fat-butt-for/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [I don't understand why it's not okay to be plus-size. I don't know why people hate that phrase. Many models have built their careers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/i-don-t-understand-why-it-s-not-okay-to-be-plus-size-i-don-t-know-why/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [I think it frustrates me that so many people have bought into the idea of what we should look like instead of actually giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/i-think-it-frustrates-me-that-so-many-people-have-bought-into-the/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [I've noticed that a lot of people who criticize me are from the U.K. - both in the press and on social media. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/i-ve-noticed-that-a-lot-of-people-who-criticize-me-are-from-the-u-k/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [I've been thinking a lot about my relationship to my own queerness, and I think the word pansexual speaks to me more than bi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/i-ve-been-thinking-a-lot-about-my-relationship-to-my-own-queerness/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [I feel like it's important to talk about my health, which is fine, and my size because there are young girls who see someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/i-feel-like-it-s-important-to-talk-about-my-health-which-is-fine-and/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [Designers are either not interested in making larger sizes or they don't feel that it's important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/designers-are-either-not-interested-in-making-larger-sizes-or-they/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) [Explore all 100 Tess Holliday quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) ## More Controversial quotes > [I'd be very controversial if I said why, and I don't do controversial anymore. That's too passé. So last year. Being controversial is boring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-d-be-very-controversial-if-i-said-why-and-i-don-t-do-controversial/) M.I.A > [Ninety-eight percent of the things that come out of my mouth are intended to be harmless or even charming. They're not ever intended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/ninety-eight-percent-of-the-things-that-come-out-of-my-mouth-are/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [For a lot of women, one of the hardest things about leadership is the desire to be liked by everyone. That's often inconsistent with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weddington/for-a-lot-of-women-one-of-the-hardest-things-about-leadership-is-the/) [Sarah Weddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weddington/) > [The chief beneficiary of life insurance policies for young, single people is the life insurance agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-smith/the-chief-beneficiary-of-life-insurance-policies-for-young-single/) [Wes Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-smith/) > [If art is singular expression, then by nature, the best art is controversial. But when art stirs debate for reasons besides its artistic integrity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/if-art-is-singular-expression-then-by-nature-the-best-art-is/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Here - at this final hour, Harlem has come to bid farewell to one of its brightest hopes - extinguished now, and gone from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ossie-davis/here-at-this-final-hour-harlem-has-come-to-bid-farewell-to-one-of-its/) [Ossie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ossie-davis/) > [Those who misrepresent the normal experiences of life, who decry being controversial, who shun risk, are the enemies of the American way of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wriston/those-who-misrepresent-the-normal-experiences-of-life-who-decry-being/) [Henry Wriston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wriston/) > [“My personal analysis is that the media have made the AI-safety debate seem more controversial than it really is. After all, fear sells, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tegmark/my-personal-analysis-is-that-the-media-have-made-the-ai-safety-debate/) [Max Tegmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tegmark/) > [I think if I'm controversial it's not because I set out to be. It's because I've never felt comfortable being part of someone else's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/i-think-if-i-m-controversial-it-s-not-because-i-set-out-to-be-it-s/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [I was very willing to take on controversial roles that people didn't really want to look at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/i-was-very-willing-to-take-on-controversial-roles-that-people-didn-t/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [I get called 'controversial' all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-get-called-controversial-all-the-time/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [ I curated this show \[Shanghai Biennale \], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-curated-this-show-shanghai-biennale-i-was-by-no-means-trying-to/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [“When you fear nothing, you have nothing to fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-f-chandler/when-you-fear-nothing-you-have-nothing-to-fear/) S.F. Chandler > [I've been a very effective leader in the gay rights movement, though at times I've been controversial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-o-leary/i-ve-been-a-very-effective-leader-in-the-gay-rights-movement-though/) [Jean O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-o-leary/) > [“At the time, though, vaccination was controversial. Many were opposed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-wright/at-the-time-though-vaccination-was-controversial-many-were-opposed/) [Jennifer Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-wright/) [Browse all 486 Controversial quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why is it controversial to talk about the fact that fat people deserve to take up space and deserve to be sexy?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tess Holliday" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/why-is-it-controversial-to-talk-about-the-fact-that-fat-people/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Controversial" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/why-is-it-controversial-to-talk-about-the-fact-that-fat-people/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/tess-holliday-5545_controversial_why-is-it-controversial-to-talk-about-th_190824.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/tess-holliday-5545_controversial_why-is-it-controversial-to-talk-about-th_190824.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/tess-holliday-5545_controversial_why-is-it-controversial-to-talk-about-th_190824.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Why is it controversial to talk about the fact that fat people deserve to take up space and deserve to be…” — Tess Holliday", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tess Holliday", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Why is it controversial to talk...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/why-is-it-controversial-to-talk-about-the-fact-that-fat-people/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/why-is-it-controversial-to-talk-about-the-fact-that-fat-people/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```