Scroll To Top
Arts & Entertainment

In Defense of Amy Schumer's I Feel Pretty

In Defense of Amy Schumer's I Feel Pretty

I feel pretty

The comedian's new film has been slammed by critics as sexist and regressive. Here are the best defenses for the self-esteem comedy.

Support The Advocate
LGBTQ+ stories are more important than ever. Join us in fighting for our future. Support our journalism.

After facing a huge backlash the moment its trailer dropped, the flick I Feel Pretty has been a cause for much-heated discussion (especially by critics; it has a 36 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes). Is it sexist? Superficial? Demeaning to women of size?

The film stars Amy Schumer as Renee, an insecure woman surrounded by Instagram models who hits her head at SoulCycle and wakes up thinking she's the most beautiful of them all. Controversy flew around the premise itself: Schumer, a white, blonde, curvaceous actress certainly isn't ugly -- what does it say to women who look like her (or larger) to present her as so?

Schumer had a different take.

"There are those who said my character shouldn't feel insecure about her size," she wrote in a Bustle piece, "If You Judged My Movie 'I Feel Pretty' Without Seeing It, Here's What You're Missing." "But it's not anyone's place to tell someone whether or not they have a right to feel bad about themselves. People just projected hard, and I understand why -- it's fucking hard to be a chick. We've all had so much pain and emotion attached to the portrayal of body image on-screen that people are ready to get mad."

But not everyone is that mad. Here some reactions from people who loved the film, and are willing to go to bat for it.

There were the takes on body image:

Even some love for Michelle Williams' comedy chops.

At least we can all agree on Michelle, right?

The Advocates with Sonia BaghdadyOut / Advocate Magazine - Jonathan Groff & Wayne Brady

From our Sponsors

Most Popular

Latest Stories

Ariel Sobel