Chrissie Swan to Michelle Bridges: "Don't judge someone's entire character by what they look like."

In an in-depth interview with Australian Story yesterday, fitness trainer Michelle Bridges said she had never met an obese person who was truly happy.

“I think it might be seen that I have this agenda on people who are overweight or people who are deemed fat,” she said.

“Honestly if you are happy where you are, genuinely, more power to you. But I can tell you now, I am yet to have met someone who is morbidly obese and happy.”

Michelle Bridges on Australian Story. Post continues below. 

Yesterday, Mamamia’s own Alys Gagnon wrote about her feelings towards Bridges’ comments, and since the interview aired last night, several other media personalities have voiced their opposition to Bridges’ claims.

On Nova 100‘s ‘Chrissie, Sam & Browny’ this morning, host Chrissie Swan touched on Bridges comments. “Michelle Bridges last night on Australian Story said that she’s never met a happy fat person,” Swan said. “And yet mysteriously I have met her many times.”

“Hi Michelle if you are listening,” Swan joked. “Remember me? I’ve known you for years. We have met many, many times … You can take it back now. I’m happy.”

Listening to us yet? We’ll be back fresh and ready for you tomorrow from 6am @chrissiesamandbrowny @nova100

A photo posted by Chrissie Swan (@chrissieswan) on Apr 2, 2016 at 4:21pm PDT

Jonathan ‘Browny’ Brown also responded to Bridges’ comments, saying that he had previously associated bigger people with being “jovial”.

But Swan wasn’t having any of that either. “That is equally ridiculous,” she said.

“All we are saying is you should not judge someone’s entire character by what they look like… Every fat person is not sad or trying to change themselves or jovial.”

Over on KIIS 101.1 in Melbourne, comedian Meshel Laurie was less phased, assuring listeners, “I’m not as outraged as you might think”.

While she’s not upset about the comments, Laurie says they “tapped into” a recent conversation she had with her son, Louis.

Outfit of the day. #ootd @tee_smyth reckons I need to hashtag better to really leverage my socials. Thanks Tully, but I don’t think my outfits are worth it. ???? A photo posted by @meshel_laurie on Feb 16, 2016 at 1:05pm PST

“He’s six, he’s in grade one,” she said to co-host Matt Tilley. “He said to me, ‘Mummy, you’re fat.’ I said, ‘Yeah … and that’s OK. I’m really happy. I’m a really happy person’.”

“I meant it from the absolute pit of my soul,” Laurie said.

“I’m such a lucky person. I’ve got two arms that work, two legs that work. A brain that’s sharp. My focus is always, I’ve actually got a perfect body,” she said, reiterating the idea that the purpose of a body is far more to do with what it can do than how it looks.

“My body does everything you could ever ask for it to do. It had twins one time, it breathes properly. It is actually possible to be fat and happy, I promise you.”

Listen to Michelle Bridges interviewed for No Filter with Mia Freedman:

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