NFL Quarterback Jay Cutler Was Fat Shamed for This Picture
NFL quarterback Jay Cutler was the victim of body-shaming after his wife, Kristin Cavallari, posted a photo on social media.
When Jay Cutler's wife, former reality star Kristin Cavallari, shared a photo of him taken on the weekend of her 30th birthday celebration, he probably didn't expect to be the victim of the social-media phenomenon of fat shaming. Not only does the athlete (who suffers from Type 1 diabetes) appear to be in perfectly fine form, but women are more commonly the targets of internet trolls when it comes to body image.
The Chicago Bears quarterback, currently recovering from an injury incurred during the 2016 season, happily posed for a snap with his bikini-clad wife while boating in Sayulita, Mexico, over the weekend.
"I had the best birthday of my life and it was all thanks to this guy. Not only did he plan a huge surprise party, he planned a 'surprise' trip to Mexico with some of my closest friends, too. Thanks, babe....you will probably never see this," she captioned the sweet snap, clearly not expecting the overwhelming response of social-media ugliness that ensued.
"He looks so flabby," commented one user. Another declaring: "The least toned arms in the NFL."
But this isn't the first time we've seen trolls break gender stereotypes when it comes to body shaming and full-on attack men the same way they do women. Similar fat shaming to Cutler's went down when Leonardo DiCaprio hit the beach with Toni Garrn in Bora Bora that resulted in tabloids calling him "The Great Fatsby."
Beyond DiCaprio, male celebrities have also been fat shamed for everything from unflattering photos to minor slides into slightly less-chiseled physiques. Take Vin Diesel, for example, the action-hero known for his ripped bod who was fat shamed for getting photographed badly — a photo that led commenters to dub him "dad bod" and make memes of the star.
At the end of the day, body-shaming is slowly becoming as common for men as it is for women. It's a sad reality that women are all too familiar with that is beginning to reflect itself in a rise of male body-image related issues. For example, there has been an increase in reports of lowered self-esteem and higher rates of eating disorders among men over the past few years. Yahoo attributes this to a cultural shift in the perceived "ideal" male body image toward stronger, more muscular men.
If there's one thing that this shows us it's that while body shaming may still not be entirely as prevalent with men as it is with women, it is growing. And it hurts our guys out there just the same as anyone else.
What Do YOU Think?
How do you respond to nasty comments on social media? Have you or a male friend of yours ever been bullied about your body? How do you stay positive on social media? Let us know in the comments below.