Fans could change the conversation around idols bodies, but need to want to
Thanks to Joana Ashley for editing this piece
The commentary about weight and bodies of idols isn’t something new in the list of topics people talk about when it comes to public figures. But given the times and the amount of reflective subversive conversations late millennials and Gen Zs have on a daily basis, it is surprising to still find a normalized ode to the looks of idols, especially coming from so-called fans themselves.
Just a couple of words in the Quora search bar is enough to find dozens of questions and threads of open discourse around subjects such as an idol’s weight, ideal body types or even the top 10 best bodies in the industry, which is interesting considering this is a fan space.
This is not a phenomenon exclusive to K-Pop. The standards of the entertainment industry in general is known to play a large role, but the fans’ fixation with an idol’s body — from hourglass figures, small waists, sharp features, thigh thickness, and the appearance of “youth” (whatever that means) — is nothing short of concerning.
This year you could have found several comments through TikTok, Twitter and even V Live that pointed out weight changes for idols such as TWICE member Jeongyeon or BTS rapper SUGA — even after both came back from facing medical issues. More recently, Lisa from BLACKPINK, who in the past has been pointed as being “too skinny,” is once again a subject of discussion, this time over how much weight she gained for her solo debut.
What is surprising is that these comments come from fandom spaces, which contain people that, most of the time, criticize the industry and entertainment companies for how they contribute to the pressure idols face. With that, I have one question: Is the structural body standard perception and anti-fatness only comes for those in roles of power inside the big machine such as entertainment companies or media outlets?
Without going too far, if we consider the response to Adele’s “glow-up,” for example, many questions come to mind. Wasn’t she beautiful before? Hasn’t she always had a vibrant and fun personality? If so, what is her glow-up, then? The weight she lost? Why are we calling that an “upgrade?” Is it because we believe she leads a healthier lifestyle now (as if we are her personal nutritionists) or is it because her body now fits the idea of the conventionally attractive woman?
It’s necessary to understand and address the national beauty standard in each nation. While beauty standards can vary by region (like the ideal face in South Korea isn’t the same in the United States), it is also true that there is a generalized canon of beauty in the entertainment industry globally. This canon is reinforced by the male gaze, which is internalized in the behaviors of directors, managers, make-up artists and and designers; meaning: people in positions of power inside the industry.
Here in Outro Words we already talked a bit about the male gaze from the perspective of ageism and how it sees women as an object of desire. This idea also concerns physical beauty in both men and women, of course, to different degrees. However, with the fixation of the male gaze on how each normative gender should be according to Western and Eurocentric beauty standards, it comes the idea of how each one should look:
- White delicate passive female, with young and innocent looks which come with soft features, tiny faces, not too tall height, thin bodies (as something it needs to be protected) but still some curves since it has to be a source of sexual desire.
- Two dominating male looks, depending on the region and the lens you’re using: Chris Hemsworth-like Thor physique with a lot of muscle and, also, white — the male gaze standard. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there’s the sharp face and lot of hair, or perfectly androgynous looks with muscle but not too much, tiny waist and big youthful eyes — the female gaze standard.
So, the bar is high. For everyone. If you have doubts, ask Yeonjun from Korean pop band TOMORROW BY TOGETHER, who in the middle of a V Live found and read aloud a comment saying “Yeonjun you’re fat.” However, the real conversation started when Soobin (Yeounjun’s band mate and leader of the group) responded that not only was the comment not true, but it disregarded how hard they work on their bodies and health.
“When you write comments like this, look at yourself then write it. Don’t use words like that, I’m serious. You don’t know how much the members take care of themselves. Writing comments like that hurts the members.” — Choi Soobin — Vlive August 9, 2021
With his response, Soobin makes a point: we need to call out these types of behaviors, both from fans to idols and in other social contexts. His statement serves as a reminder about how such comments can affect idols like himself and add to existing pressure idols experience. No, idols’ personal lives and bodies aren’t topics fans should feel free to comment on, meaning: it isn’t our problem.
I could list tons of hateful and unnecessary comments people had made towards idols and artists about their weight, such as the fabricated narrative that Lizzo participates in “promoting obesity” which is far from an actual conversation about health, both mental and physical, and tries to undermines the struggle many people go through to accept themselves. Or how the obsession with the perfect body with the entitlement of having a social media account, goes as far as to diagnosing eating disorders without any other proof than a pair of pictures where the person looks skinnier than before — like is currently happening with Anya Taylor-Joy.
The point is that the conversation about ideal body types and other physical beauty standards is a long one that needs to be addressed with respect and empathy. Where diversity is the key to understand all these canons different cultures have established and be mature enough to admit that, yeah, we all have biases. We can deconstruct our minds to be able to not judge and put unnecessary pressure over other human beings that are doing the best they can in their lives.
Then, the answer to the initial question would be a big no. The corporate machine with all their directors and managers do set some rules and bars that idols, celebrities and anyone who wants to make it big in the entertainment industry should meet in terms of looks, along with centuries of biased developments in culture. But the audience and fans themselves are too a huge part of the pressure idols face, through mean comments, ignorant takes on health and beauty, and heartless opinions that seem to forget that the person you see on the screen is, still, a human being. A part of the entertainment industry power triangle with enough force to change the status quo and minimize the pressure our “faves” face regarding their looks, bodies and weight.
