Weighing Up

 Hello Everyone, I hope you're all well and there have been some good moments for you this week, even though times are difficult for so many. Here in the UK, it's been a time of mixed fortunes, with a general election to bring in a new prime minister, to the excitement regarding the English soccer team who are in a final at the weekend. So, depending on your standpoint, it's either been fabulous or depressing. For me, the state of so many things here could do with a major rethink, so fingers crossed, this new government might be able to do something. As for the football team? Obviously, I wish them well.

But today's post is sprung from the article written by a certain Zoe Strimpel for 'The Spectator' magazine regarding the series 'Bridgerton', focusing on the relationship between two of the characters, Penelope and Colin. Strimpel's piece is titled 'Bridgerton's Big Fantasy' and is obsessed with attempting to fat-shame the sublime actress, Nicola Coughlan, who she describes as 'not hot' and the plotline is 'simply not plausible as the friend who would catch the handsome rich aristocrat Colin Bridgeton's eye in that way.' Aside from the fact, Ms Coughlan is extremely attractive, which throws the whole premise into the ridiculous, Strimpel has shown herself to be strikingly similar to the trope of a jealous, bitter woman who never got the man.

Nicola Coughlan in 'Bridgerton.'

I'm assuming she is relatively well educated and so there is absolutely no excuse for not knowing the importance of women standing up for each other-especially when the target is someone who has done nothing more controversial or damaging than appear in a television series. But does she write about the progress that's been made? Does she write about the diversity within the whole cast of the show? Sadly, she does not. Instead, she sits on the sidelines, judging through her own lens and trying to demean Ms Coughlan. There is little or no merit in coining the phrase 'mixed weight relationship' while asking if the viewers are 'ready' to see one onscreen which is frankly insulting to those very people who love the show. Does she really believe that they will switch off in horror if the female lead isn't a size zero? If the viewing figures are to be believed, the answer is an emphatic 'NO.' Not to mention the outpouring of support for Miss Coughlan across social media, coming from all sides of the society.

The other point to notice, is Colin Bridgerton is described as 'handsome, rich and an aristocrat', Strimpel clearly feels no need to comment on the size of his body. Instead, by using these three adjectives, she is stating those are more than enough to make the case for her assertion that the relationship isn't plausible. When you think about it, she's also being rude about him too! By suggesting because of those attributes, he is somehow incapable of being attracted to anyone other than the female version of himself.

As you may have guessed, I find the whole piece genuinely offensive, to me, it's not much more than bullying and I sincerely hope Miss Coughlan feels the wave of support and affection that should drown out this deeply unpleasant voice. Why it was written in the first place is an intriguing question, my guess would be, the writer is trying to somehow cash in on the popularity of the Bridgerton series.  Strimpel chose to write a disparaging piece about Miss Coughlan in the hope of attracting the inevitable click bait- from that point of view, they have succeeded, but at a very high personal cost. As the great Maya Angelou once said, 'when someone shows you who they are, believe them' and this writer has revealed herself to us all.

Finally, I would like to make it clear, I firmly believe there is a need for honest reviews when it comes to any/all creative endeavours. If the plotline is awful, if the song lyrics make no sense etc then, of course, the role of the critic is to highlight these shortcomings. Even though I have received mixed reviews on my own work, I will always be thankful, I live in a society where people can freely voice their opinions. But Strimpel's piece was nothing more than a personal attack, not only on Miss Coughlan, but also the whole cast, the Bridgerton writers not to mention the viewing public, who she apparently believes, can only cope with seeing conventionally slim people fall in love. It would seem I have far more faith in their intelligence, their compassion and their desire to watch a wonderful story unfold regardless of the size of the lovers.

Anyway, that's probably more than enough from me, so I'll leave you in peace but not without a quick thank you to those who have preordered 'By This Hand', it goes live tomorrow, 13th July, so fingers crossed, you enjoy the story...until the next time..

Take care out there xx