What I notice about that picture is that it looks like she was Photoshopped onto the background. Maybe it’s just something about the camera settings (very narrow depth of field, maybe?), but her outline looks unnatural.
And she’s not just any celebrity: She’s a celebrity chef. I think that there’s some expectation that a chef specifically won’t be skinny.
All that can be forgiven. What’s irritating about her is how much attention she constantly craves from men. Just watch some of the past Thanksgiving specials where all the celebrity cooks get together to make a meal. There were a couple of times where I can see the irritation on Alton Brown’s face. JdL is one insecure hot mess.
I looked at her pics. She does not look underweight. And, in my personal opinion, she is not any less attractive than before.
I think it is inherent that, if you base your brand at least in part on your appearance, then discussing your appearance is fair game. If you promote yourself as being “sexy,” then that particular part of your appearance is fair game.
That said, I don’t like the “needs a sandwich” style mockery. Saying she’s less attractive to you because she’s skinnier? Makes sense. But the “sandwich” joke starts to seem more like a problem with skinny people in general. At least, to my ears.
I do agree that it’s not as bad as the anti-fat stuff for the same reasons you all mention. But I do think anti-skinny prejudice is sometimes ignored or seen as fair game because of anti-fat prejudice. I think that argument only possibly works if that particular skinny person is making fun of fat people.
Anyways, those are my thoughts. Take 'em or leave 'em.
Edit: and I find most cooking show people a bit annoying, other than Alton Brown. There’s a reason Good Eats was the only cooking show I ever watched.
She *is *skinny, but she LOOKS extra skinny because her head is too big for her body. Like a bobble-head. If her head were smaller, she wouldn’t look so out of proportion.
After Giada started showing cleavage on her show, Rachael Ray tried to with lower necklines and a push-up bra. However, Rachael is not similarly endowed, so it didn’t really work.
I spoke with too much precision. I think there’s an expectation that any cook, chef or otherwise, will not be skinny. And while a cook isn’t required to eat, they do generally have a heightened appreciation for food.