Insatiable is Renewed for a Second Season (last week's post)

Netflix’s latest original series, Insatiable, has been criticized widely since the trailer dropped for being fatphobic. The show’s main character, played by Debby Ryan, was bullied for being overweight. She then has her jaw wired shut and loses weight due to not eating. After becoming thin, she seeks revenge by competing in beauty pageants and flaunting her new body.

The show caused an immediate outrage online. Many called out Netflix for body-shaming and for glorifying eating disorders. Before the show even aired, VP of original series Cindy Holland made a statement. CBS reported that Holland explained the show is supposed to be a satire. She did not deny the fat-shaming that takes place in the show, but she argued that the message of the show is “what’s most important is you feel most comfortable.” Despite Netflix executives and many of the actors’ statements supporting the show, the public’s anger continued.

Despite public outrage and a Rotten Tomatoes score of 11 percent, the show has just been renewed for a second season. While the show received harsh reviews, the audience score is 83 percent. This fact, and the fact that Netflix felt comfortable renewing the show after its debut only a month ago, causes me to question our culture. Are people “hate-watching” Insatiable, or does the majority of the public not see the show as fatphobic at all?