Dawn French has launched an attack on body-shamers after having to deal with negatives comments over the years as she vowed she won’t be “taking any s***” from anyone about any of it” in the future.
In 2014, the comedian, 65, had a cancer scare and required a hysterectomy. She was told by her doctor that if she lost weight, her recovery time would be quicker. French then lost seven and a half stone.
Her slimmed down frame hit the headlines with many praising the Holyhead-born star’s new look.
French has now reflected on that time in a new interview, noting that women in the public eye are often “reduced” to descriptions of their appearance.
“I have never rejected the bigger woman I have been. Lots of people do it and say, ‘Oh, you look so much better – now you look well.’ And I think, ‘F*** off! Don’t judge that other person who I loved,’” French told The Times.
“[British singer] Alison Moyet is a very good friend and so often she has been reduced to descriptions of her physicality.
“She’s this giant talent, why reduce her to that? I’m not taking any s*** from anyone about any of it,” she added.
French also spoke the early years of her career when she and her comedy partner, Jennifer Saunders, starred in their BBC show French and Saunders.
She said she felt as though the comedy duo were often described by how they looked – something she says “never” happened to their male colleagues.
“For many years Jennifer [Saunders] and I were always described by how we looked, especially me, because I was the bigger one.”
“It was always about ‘running to fat’ or ‘plump’, and they never said that about any of the male comedians.”
“I absolutely own whatever my size is and I will call myself whatever I want. But if I feel like the intent is to shame me, I will not have it,” she said.
