# Is "Precious" star Gabourey Sidibe so obese she is in danger of early death? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 12, 2010, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214 "2010-03-12T07:14:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/161 "2010-03-15T22:36:58Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > And you accuse me of not making sense? Whatever, lady. You’re a shithead-loser board obsesser, you got called on it, you know it, you’re embarassed, you’re trying to weasel. Give it up. I already said exactly how I feel about you, and copped a warning for it, so just leave me alone, ok? I am a shithead-loser board obsesser and you think you called me on it? Really? That’s what you think happened just now in this thread? Just leave you alone? Honestly, I think you might want to step back from the computer. I saw you heading down the same path with DianaG that you headed down with me and I said so. You blew a gasket and played name calling games. This somehow makes me a shithead-loser board obsesser. Okay. You take care now. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/162 "2010-03-15T22:39:28Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > I’m giving this fight to **Sleeps**. She can smack talk back while staying calm. **Cisco** , sadly, ends up sounding shrill. Keep it cool, bro! Oh, shit, it’s fucking OFFICIAL NOW! DAMN! I got SERVED! > [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > I am a shithead-loser board obsesser and you think you called me on it? Really? That’s what you think happened just now in this thread? Just leave you alone? Honestly, I think you might want to step back from the computer. > > I saw you heading down the same path with DianaG that you headed down with me and I said so. You blew a gasket and played name calling games. This somehow makes me a shithead-loser board obsesser. Okay. > > You take care now. Shouldn’t you be busy “snarking” about this anonymously somewhere, or blogging or vlogging or second-lifing or whatever you people do? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/163 "2010-03-15T22:46:16Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > . I guess my mind figured Howard + Obesity = Gotta be the Pit. Knowing this place, that’s actually a fair point. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/164 "2010-03-15T22:47:50Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > I’m giving this fight to **Sleeps**. She can smack talk back while staying calm. **Cisco** , sadly, ends up sounding shrill. Keep it cool, bro! Yeah, but I appreciate a bit of honest passion; it’s refreshing. Plus his delivery is funny, blunt and modern. I like his style. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/165 "2010-03-15T22:48:29Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I’m NOT convinced you ever listened to them for more than 5 minutes, if at all. And I’m NOT convinced you can read, because I said we _don’t_ know anything about her personally, but it’s _likely_ that she’s felt some pain in her life, if not as a cause of her obesity, then as an effect of it-- just like I supported with my link. Now stfu, because you’re just stamping your feet to look all “right” and high and mighty and you sound dumb. Well, based on what I’ve read about her, at a young age she did feel pressure to diet and try to lose weight but she never could. And at one point she just said she was going to learn to accept and love herself and by all account she’s fairly well adjusted. I don’t know her personally but if she’s cool with herself now, more power to her. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/166 "2010-03-15T22:53:31Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Yeah, I think Howard is a good person who gets a bad rap in most circles (a Jew and a black woman who comment on popular culture are not well-received by middle America. Wow, imagine that.) Stern might be a good person. Stern might get a bad rap. The perception people have of him is based on performances he has done, and his perceived attitude. The idea that any of the flack he has taken over the years has much to do with him being Jewish and Robin black is ludicrous. His act consists of a lot of over the top humor. Be it sexual, racial, or whatever topic he and his staff find funny. This act is going to garner protests whether the performer is a black jew, a fat puerto rican, or even a white guy from Nebraska. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/167 "2010-03-15T23:12:57Z")
Howard Stern is not someone who I would listen to. I’d rather listen to paint drying. With that said, Mz Sidibe was nominated for an award for a role that is basically her life’s story. All the praise heaped upon her by the Hollywood crowd has a patronizing feel. It’s like watching the public service piece where a high school prom crowd elects a mentally challenged girl as prom queen. If she does indeed take on a role that tests her acting skills and does well then the praise will be warranted. Her weight is a separate subject and if she doesn’t get a handle on it then she’ll be joining John Candy (43) and Chris Farley (33) on the list of actors dying young. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/168 "2010-03-15T23:31:30Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > With that said, Mz Sidibe was nominated for an award for a role that is basically her life’s story. _Say what_?While her mother did struggle after divorcing her father, I don’t see how a childless young woman with lots of self-esteem and no diseases (as far as you or I know) who is in the process of pursuing a degree in psychology has the same life story as Precious. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/169 "2010-03-15T23:32:37Z")
Magiver, that role was NOBODY’S life story. Someone in this thread called that movie ‘poverty porn’. I’ve called it that myself, in other threads. That girl had to ACT to pull that off. Her personality in interviews is a 180 turn around from that role. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/170 "2010-03-15T23:33:06Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > With that said, Mz Sidibe was nominated for an award for a role that is basically her life’s story. All the praise heaped upon her by the Hollywood crowd has a patronizing feel. It’s like watching the public service piece where a high school prom crowd elects a mentally challenged girl as prom queen. If she does indeed take on a role that tests her acting skills and does well then the praise will be warranted. I don’t think that’s right. I remember her saying that people keep approaching her in public as if she is the character. She said it’s crazy because she has good parents who love her and her life was nothing like Precious. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/171 "2010-03-15T23:41:25Z")
Yeah. In fact, hearing someone say that she’s playing her life’s role in Precious is so odd because the one thing you hear over and over again is that she’s NOT Precious. She’s completely different. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/172 "2010-03-16T00:35:44Z")
Why of course it’s her life story! She’s fat and black and female. So is Precious. I mean, come on … how can there be _two_ people like that?! Count me among those who agree that “having a good career” doesn’t equal “being a superstar with dozens of leading roles.” The vast majority of working actors in the world aren’t famous, gorgeous skinny gals. One can still have a very fulfilling and interesting career by playing character parts, and if Sidibe is down-to-earth and pragmatic, she’ll be smart enough to consider herself fortunate and satisfied by that, as well she should. Will she be up for roles against competitors like Amy Adams or Kristen Storms? No. And so what? Films and TV need character actors too. In time, Sidibe may prove herself to have staying power. It’s just way, way too early to tell. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/173 "2010-03-16T00:48:01Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > I’m giving this fight to **Sleeps**. She can smack talk back while staying calm. **Cisco** , sadly, ends up sounding shrill. Keep it cool, bro! I’m on Cisco’s side, even if he is allowing himself to be obviously antagonized. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/174 "2010-03-16T01:12:39Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > And you accuse me of not making sense? Whatever, lady. You’re a shithead-loser board obsesser, you got called on it, you know it, you’re embarassed, you’re trying to weasel. Give it up. I already said exactly how I feel about you, and copped a warning for it, so just leave me alone, ok? And you just copped another warning. “Shithead-loser board obsesser” is an inappropriate insult in Cafe Society, which is where you knew damn well you were. I suggest you give yourself a time-out before we do it for you. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/175 "2010-03-16T02:03:13Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > With that said, Mz Sidibe was nominated for an award for a role that is basically her life’s story. That’s no more true than saying Jeff Bridges is an loser alcoholic country singer in real life. The ONLY thing Gabby and Precious have in common besides both being female is that they’re both big. Gabby in real life is much closer to the Precious in the fantasy sequences: outgoing, self-confident, happy, successful. > [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Magiver, that role was NOBODY’S life story. That’s not true either. While Precious wasn’t based on anyone in particular, there are a LOT of girls/women who have lived/live lives full of desperation, poverty and horrific abuse. The director said (paraphrased because I don’t have a link) he had seen several auditions by females who were very close to Precious, not just in looks, but in how horrible their lives were growing up or even currently. He didn’t want to cast them because he felt he would be exploiting their life. He met Gabby and cast her because 1) she was a good actress, and 2) she was NOTHING like Precious so he didn’t feel guilty. > [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Someone in this thread called that movie ‘poverty porn’. That phrase is far more disgusting and offensive than anything Howard Stern said (not that I agree with Howard Stern). > [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > That girl had to ACT to pull that off. Her personality in interviews is a 180 turn around from that role. I agree with that. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/176 "2010-03-16T02:35:11Z")
I think that the most obvious analogy for Gabourey Sidibe is Marlee Matlin: > **[Marlee Matlin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlee_Matlin)** > > Marlee Beth Matlin (born August 24, 1965) is an American actress, author, and activist. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to nominations for a BAFTA Award, and four Primetime Emmy Awards. > Deaf since she was 18 months old, Matlin made her acting debut playing Sarah Norman in the romantic drama film Children of a Lesser God (1986), winning the Academy Award for Best Actress. She is the first deaf... > **[Marlee Matlin | Actress, Producer, Director](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0559144/)** > > Known for: CODA, Children of a Lesser God, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit She won a Best Actress at 21. I can’t think of any significant actor or actress before her who was deaf. Yet in her case she has continued to get good roles ever since. Note that they are good roles, but they aren’t really top ones. Hollywood has basically been happy with her performances since then. She frequently gets good roles that are specially tailored for her. She hasn’t become a superstar by any means. But then, most Oscar winners don’t. The notion that winning an Oscar means that you will be getting great roles for the rest of your life is just wrong. Indeed, it only seems to slightly increase your visibility for a while. Either winning or getting nominated for an Oscar just means that for a while Hollywood will find a few good roles for you and might be willing to rewrite a few scripts to make it easier to cast you. Getting good roles after that is only possible if they continue to be impressed by your acting or your box office potential. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/177 "2010-03-16T02:54:26Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > I think that the most obvious analogy for Gabourey Sidibe is Marlee Matlin: > > [Marlee Matlin - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlee_Matlin) > > [Marlee Matlin - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0559144/) > > She won a Best Actress at 21. I can’t think of any significant actor or actress before her who was deaf. Yet in her case she has continued to get good roles ever since. Note that they are good roles, but they aren’t really top ones. Hollywood has basically been happy with her performances since then. She frequently gets good roles that are specially tailored for her. > > She hasn’t become a superstar by any means. But then, most Oscar winners don’t. The notion that winning an Oscar means that you will be getting great roles for the rest of your life is just wrong. Indeed, it only seems to slightly increase your visibility for a while. Either winning or getting nominated for an Oscar just means that for a while Hollywood will find a few good roles for you and might be willing to rewrite a few scripts to make it easier to cast you. Getting good roles after that is only possible if they continue to be impressed by your acting or your box office potential. Indeed. Consider F. Murray Abraham. Best Actor for _Amadeus_, deservedly so, in my opinion. The Oscar didn’t make him a star, it just increased his profile a tiny bit. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/178 "2010-03-16T04:28:58Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > That’s not much of a bet since that happens to \*most \*young actresses who have one flashy first role. A few years later and maybe they’re still doing bit parts but people don’t remember them. Gabourey is no different. At least she does have a niche she can fill if needed. Like that pretty little thin girl, what was her name, oh yeah, Brittany Murphy. Died young but wasn’t fat so I guess she was a success. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/179 "2010-03-16T04:32:31Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Like that pretty little thin girl, what was her name, oh yeah, Brittany Murphy. > > Died young but wasn’t fat so I guess she was a success. Meow ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214/180 "2010-03-16T06:37:54Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Magiver, that role was NOBODY’S life story. Someone in this thread called that movie ‘poverty porn’. I’ve called it that myself, in other threads. That girl had to ACT to pull that off. Her personality in interviews is a 180 turn around from that role. She played a fat teenager who was not treated well. I seriously doubt she was treated with a lot of respect by her peers unless high school has changed since the beginning of the universe. I’m sure she’s a delightful person from a lovely family but she has to be painfully aware of how mean kids can be. It had to translate on an emotional level to the character she played even though that wasn’t the specific plot line. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-precious-star-gabourey-sidibe-so-obese-she-is-in-danger-of-early-death/532214.md?page=10)