People Who Mocked Chadwick Boseman For His Weight Loss Now Feel Awful And Hopefully It Teaches Them A Lesson
Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer 4 years ago. The actor never spoke publicly about his illness and made numerous movies while fighting it. On Friday, however, Boseman lost the battle.
As tragic as his death is, it also serves as a reminder to never mock someone’s weight. You see, months earlier, Boseman posted a video to Instagram where he spoke about Operation 42, an initiative that aims to help hospitals serving African-American communities during the pandemic. In it, he appeared way, way thinner than most people were used to him being. And they noticed.
On Friday, Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman died from colon cancer
Image credits: chadwickboseman
Some commenters were generally concerned, asking: “Are you ok?” but others — not so much. They made hurtful jokes and even started uploading memes, all of which were mocking the dramatic transformation Boseman had been going through.
After his family released a statement about the actor’s death, his fan Haley Ruth Spencer, an English and theatre major from Tulare, California, made a Facebook post, highlighting just how ignorant these remarks were.
The actor never spoke publicly about his illness and had continued making movies even after the diagnosis
Image credits: Marvel
However, one of his fans reminded everyone about a video Boseman posted a couple of months ago, most importantly, people’s reactions to it
Image credits: Haley Ruth Spencer
“I’m a big fan of Chadwick Boseman. Black Panther is one of my very favorite superheroes, and seeing the movie for my 20th birthday is a very special memory,” Spencer told Bored Panda. “He seems like he was just a really solid, humble, kind-hearted spirit. Just a rare example of a truly talented yet good person.”
Spencer said she discovered the jokes on Twitter, and even though she loves that app, its users are also deeply unkind on it sometimes. “I remember people were rationalizing their body-shaming by saying he had lost the weight for a role, but I still was uncomfortable and annoyed by them. I thought they were rude at the time, and now knowing the severity of his condition, I think they’re absolutely cruel.”
“I think the only time it might be appropriate to approach someone about a drastic change in their weight is when you are personally and closely acquainted with them. And even then, it’s my personal opinion that you shouldn’t bring up their appearance and just gently take them aside and ask how they’re doing in general.”
Spencer added that she never expected that post to be seen by anyone except a few of her Facebook friends, and that it’s been stunning to see how it has struck a chord with so many people. “I think it’s not at all about me. What I wrote isn’t special, Chadwick was. People loved him and are mourning him and seem to be taking this chance to better themselves and those around them by trying to raise awareness about the cruel comments he endured.”
Many of which seem so wrong now
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) states that weight loss is common among people with cancer, and it may even be the first visible sign of the disease. “40% of people say they had unexplained weight loss when they were first diagnosed with cancer. Weight loss associated with cancer may be different than other types of weight loss. Doctors refer to a weight loss syndrome called ‘cachexia,’ which is characterized by increased metabolism, loss of skeletal muscle, fatigue, loss of appetite, and decreased quality of life. Cachexia is very common in patients with incurable cancer,” ASCO wrote on its website, adding that up to 80% of people with advanced cancer have cachexia.
Here’s what others have been saying about the issue
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Do you guys remember wentworth miller? The picture of him that became a meme? Where someone put a pic of him at his prison break time next to one of him after he gained weight? He later explained that it was a pic of him after a gruesome depression during which he found comfort in food and that it was one of thefirst times he was smiling again and people made so much fun of him because of that pic. People got to stop commenting on other people's body weight. You never know what goes on with them and Chadwick and Wentworth are only two examples that we know of where the reality behind those pictures is so painful.
The people who needed to learn from this won't. The real lesson is don't respond to cruelty. I hope their ignorant posts haunt them. They weren't fit to lick Mr. Boseman's boots.
Yeah, the article title promised me people "feeling awful" about mocking him, I don't see a single person actually feeling bad, just others criticizing. So in all probability, nobody learned any lessons here.
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I hoped to find a comment section praising and remembering this wonderful super hero of a talented and handsome man. I'm seeing the usual general hate instead. Rest in peace, Boseman. You'll forever be the King.
It's very simple. Treat people with kindness and respect. You'll never go wrong.
I admit that I do not know much about Chadwick Boseman, other than he played the main character in "Black Panther", and I didn't even get a chance to watch it. His passing touched me in a way that was unexpected. He seemed like such a genuinely good person that I couldn't help but feel sad and angry that this bright light was snuffed out so early. So, having said all that, I wish his family and friends much hope and strength. Rest in peace, Mr. Boseman.
I'm not a person who goes gaga over celebrities. I appreciate their talent the same way, and to the same degree, I appreciate anyone else's talent. But this one really hit me hard. This was a good man and he was so young. Cancer is horrific. I've watched it erode away a person I loved and it is heartbreaking. Knowing everything he did while literally in the trenches of battling this disease is mind blowing. This was a quality human and the world is a darker place without him in it.
People just make me sick. And even when they know you are ill or suffering, it won't stop some idiots from cracking jokes anyway. Chadwick is a reminder that not all heroes wear capes. I'm still lost for words...
It's sad that Chadwick Boseman had to struggle through cancer and then had to deal with insults about his appearance. He was a good man and now he is able to rest in peace. The best thing to take from all of this is to be kind to others and to not insult someone. Especially if you don't know what they are going through. We as a society, have to stop finding reasons to insult others and just get along.
Last year I was working full time and then going home to care for a terminally ill family member and trying to squeeze in time for a man who told me it was too hard to be with me. I lost 30lbs in 4 months and everyone just kept saying how great I looked. Even being "nice" commenting on someone's body is the wrong thing to do.
People should just mind their own business and stop commenting on other people period. Even the positive comments have their downside; you say that someone looks nice on Instagram and then you have another thousand young people chasing that 'like' by getting fillers and butt-lifts and all sorts of ridiculous surgeries JUST TO GET LIKED. The internet feeds off itself and for anyone caught up in that it just isn't healthy at all.
This made me cry...especially when I think about the last few moments of his life he spent being trolled to the point that it caused so much pain that he had to turn his back on the world....RIP Chadwick and thank you for gracing us with your talent and strength
What a waste. What a tragedy which could and should never happen. We can't do anything for Chadwick, but remember, take care for your health while you still have it. I don't want to sound cynical, but it has to be said: if this good man followed the plant-based (vegan) diet he would be alive and well. What a shame.
never judge a book by its cover. i bet they feel really bad now and they should
I don't think the people who post s****y comments like this actually have it in them to feel ashamed about theri behaviour.
People don't have respect for people when they look different than what they are used to which is very sad. They jump into conclusions and of the worst without knowing their story. That's messed up, ignorant and immature of them! Grow up people and know your facts about someone before posting f****d up stuff! Better than that, just don't say anything at all if you have nothing to say that is uplifting or encouraging!
My son lost a lot of weight due to congestive heart failure. He was 19yrs when we got that diagnosis. He died in January. I remember seeing Chadwick with his smaller frame. I instantly thought something must be going on. I then remember when my son lost weight, I was afraid of the mean things people would say. Even when he died, I thought to myself I hope no one says he was probably HIV positive because of his weight loss and pneumonia complications. I know right, it's sad isn't it. People need to be mindful all the while minding their own business. My son was just like Chadwick. My son is my hero. The strongest person I will ever know. I will miss him for the rest of my life.
How many have to die to teach them some lessons? The guilt won't bring back somebody. And we thought we learned something from the suicide of big names. I can only hope that Chadwick's family and those loved ones he left behind find strength. And I hope those mean words those bullies typed would echo forever in eternity.
Honor his memory by checking with your doctor. Do you have symptoms or should you have a colonoscopy? Takes a doctor 20-30 minutes to do one. Prep is longer but it really isn't terrible, especially if the result is you are cancer free.
Kumkani. Remember this word. Know it's meaning and remember it most of all when you think of him.
Every time a black person looses excess weight people call them a crackhead. The internet can be a disgusting tool for most people who are disgusting. I am so tirex of this new society if humans and guy are getting worst. They often say oh old sch[l is old but old school knew RESPECT.
This might come as a surprise, but there are people who indeed never make comments like that and are getting fed up with the idiots that do.
Load More Replies...
Do you guys remember wentworth miller? The picture of him that became a meme? Where someone put a pic of him at his prison break time next to one of him after he gained weight? He later explained that it was a pic of him after a gruesome depression during which he found comfort in food and that it was one of thefirst times he was smiling again and people made so much fun of him because of that pic. People got to stop commenting on other people's body weight. You never know what goes on with them and Chadwick and Wentworth are only two examples that we know of where the reality behind those pictures is so painful.
The people who needed to learn from this won't. The real lesson is don't respond to cruelty. I hope their ignorant posts haunt them. They weren't fit to lick Mr. Boseman's boots.
Yeah, the article title promised me people "feeling awful" about mocking him, I don't see a single person actually feeling bad, just others criticizing. So in all probability, nobody learned any lessons here.
Load More Replies... I hoped to find a comment section praising and remembering this wonderful super hero of a talented and handsome man. I'm seeing the usual general hate instead. Rest in peace, Boseman. You'll forever be the King.
It's very simple. Treat people with kindness and respect. You'll never go wrong.
I admit that I do not know much about Chadwick Boseman, other than he played the main character in "Black Panther", and I didn't even get a chance to watch it. His passing touched me in a way that was unexpected. He seemed like such a genuinely good person that I couldn't help but feel sad and angry that this bright light was snuffed out so early. So, having said all that, I wish his family and friends much hope and strength. Rest in peace, Mr. Boseman.
I'm not a person who goes gaga over celebrities. I appreciate their talent the same way, and to the same degree, I appreciate anyone else's talent. But this one really hit me hard. This was a good man and he was so young. Cancer is horrific. I've watched it erode away a person I loved and it is heartbreaking. Knowing everything he did while literally in the trenches of battling this disease is mind blowing. This was a quality human and the world is a darker place without him in it.
People just make me sick. And even when they know you are ill or suffering, it won't stop some idiots from cracking jokes anyway. Chadwick is a reminder that not all heroes wear capes. I'm still lost for words...
It's sad that Chadwick Boseman had to struggle through cancer and then had to deal with insults about his appearance. He was a good man and now he is able to rest in peace. The best thing to take from all of this is to be kind to others and to not insult someone. Especially if you don't know what they are going through. We as a society, have to stop finding reasons to insult others and just get along.
Last year I was working full time and then going home to care for a terminally ill family member and trying to squeeze in time for a man who told me it was too hard to be with me. I lost 30lbs in 4 months and everyone just kept saying how great I looked. Even being "nice" commenting on someone's body is the wrong thing to do.
People should just mind their own business and stop commenting on other people period. Even the positive comments have their downside; you say that someone looks nice on Instagram and then you have another thousand young people chasing that 'like' by getting fillers and butt-lifts and all sorts of ridiculous surgeries JUST TO GET LIKED. The internet feeds off itself and for anyone caught up in that it just isn't healthy at all.
This made me cry...especially when I think about the last few moments of his life he spent being trolled to the point that it caused so much pain that he had to turn his back on the world....RIP Chadwick and thank you for gracing us with your talent and strength
What a waste. What a tragedy which could and should never happen. We can't do anything for Chadwick, but remember, take care for your health while you still have it. I don't want to sound cynical, but it has to be said: if this good man followed the plant-based (vegan) diet he would be alive and well. What a shame.
never judge a book by its cover. i bet they feel really bad now and they should
I don't think the people who post s****y comments like this actually have it in them to feel ashamed about theri behaviour.
People don't have respect for people when they look different than what they are used to which is very sad. They jump into conclusions and of the worst without knowing their story. That's messed up, ignorant and immature of them! Grow up people and know your facts about someone before posting f****d up stuff! Better than that, just don't say anything at all if you have nothing to say that is uplifting or encouraging!
My son lost a lot of weight due to congestive heart failure. He was 19yrs when we got that diagnosis. He died in January. I remember seeing Chadwick with his smaller frame. I instantly thought something must be going on. I then remember when my son lost weight, I was afraid of the mean things people would say. Even when he died, I thought to myself I hope no one says he was probably HIV positive because of his weight loss and pneumonia complications. I know right, it's sad isn't it. People need to be mindful all the while minding their own business. My son was just like Chadwick. My son is my hero. The strongest person I will ever know. I will miss him for the rest of my life.
How many have to die to teach them some lessons? The guilt won't bring back somebody. And we thought we learned something from the suicide of big names. I can only hope that Chadwick's family and those loved ones he left behind find strength. And I hope those mean words those bullies typed would echo forever in eternity.
Honor his memory by checking with your doctor. Do you have symptoms or should you have a colonoscopy? Takes a doctor 20-30 minutes to do one. Prep is longer but it really isn't terrible, especially if the result is you are cancer free.
Kumkani. Remember this word. Know it's meaning and remember it most of all when you think of him.
Every time a black person looses excess weight people call them a crackhead. The internet can be a disgusting tool for most people who are disgusting. I am so tirex of this new society if humans and guy are getting worst. They often say oh old sch[l is old but old school knew RESPECT.
This might come as a surprise, but there are people who indeed never make comments like that and are getting fed up with the idiots that do.
Load More Replies...
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