Salon.com > Gabourey Sidibe

The touchy politics of Elle’s Gabby Sidibe cover

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 20:45:00 +0000

It makes all kinds of sense that for its 25th anniversary issue, Elle magazine would choose a cover girl who in the past year has scored an Oscar nomination, hosted "Saturday Night Live," and is currently costarring on a Showtime original series. But Gabourey Sidibe is not your typical Hollywood It girl, a fact brought home by the other mid-20s women that Elle chose for its special series of covers: the wispy, white trio of Amanda Seyfried, Megan Fox and Lauren Conrad. One of these ladies is not like the others.

So how do we solve a problem like Gabourey Sidibe? When Vanity Fair neglected the "Precious" star for its Hollywood issue earlier this year, the magazine came under fire for its glaring omission. Yet, in this latest appearance, Elle's inclusion of her feels less like a celebration of non-traditional beauty than a token gesture of diversity.

Gabourey Sidibe’s mom makes a splash on “America’s Got Talent”

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:17:00 +0000

Disclaimer: I don't watch "America's Got Talent." I refuse to slog through the terrible to get the the sweet nuggets of awesome. And Sharon Osbourne is off-putting. In any event, millions of people love it, even with no David Hasslehoff to amuse them, and last night they were treated to a big voice from Alice Tan Ridley. Ms. Ridley is "Precious" star Gabourey Sidibe's mom, which leads me to believe that Oscar nominations are worthless if you can't even get your mama a meeting with a record exec. Ridley's been busking in subways instead.

PopEater, in fact, has compiled some of the performer's best subway videos. Alice Tan Ridley has her own MySpace page and website, too. If you care to know what the judges thought, The U.K. Press Association breaks down their pithy comments. Better yet, watch the video for yourself.

Gabby Sidibe to host “Saturday Night Live”

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:08:00 +0000

First Betty White, now Gabourey Sidibe? It's like "Saturday Night Live" is not only trying to not suck but, like, actually be good. The Oscar nominee is signed on to host an upcoming episode of "SNL," according to E! News. There's no word on exactly when she will hit the air -- or whether she'll get to mock all the ridiculous diet endorsement deals that have been thrown her way or make more awesomely inappropriate comments about Hollywood's sexiest leading men -- but something tells me it will be must-see TV.

For the time being, I'm going to sit back, relax and take delight in the fact that this news is sure to reach a certain shock jock who recently commented on her supposedly diminishing career prospects. As reporter Marc Malkin puts it: "Dear Howard Stern, Gabourey Sidibe is doing just fine, thank you very much!"

Hey, Gabourey Sidibe: Hate yourself yet?

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:10:00 +0000

Gabourey Sidibe is obviously unhealthy and needs to lose weight if she wants to have a successful career. There, I said it!

No, I don't really believe a word of that. But apparently, anyone who says it this week automatically becomes newsworthy, and what the hell, I could use some buzz to help sell my next book. Sorry, Gabs, you know I love you -- let's just keep that between us for the moment, though, OK?

The latest person to successfully garner attention for concern-trolling the Oscar-nominated actress is the CEO of AcaiSupply.com, who made TMZ, among other outlets, by offering Ms. Gabby a one-year supply of weight-loss pills "in return for her glowing testimonial after she sheds her unwanted pounds." (I'm not sure if this company is one of the ones Better Business Bureau spokesperson Steve Cox was referring to when he said, "they lure customers in with celebrity endorsements and free trial offers, and then lock them in by making it extremely difficult to cancel the automatic delivery of more acai products every month." But if you like, I'll wait while you go to the Acai Supply site and see how long it takes you to find a working link to the news that after paying shipping and handling for your free trial, "You will be charged $119.93 in 14 days for our Free Refill Program unless cancelled.")

Is Gabourey Sidibe’s film career over?

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:12:00 +0000

Earlier this week Howard Stern got into quite a bit of trouble for saying on air that Gabourey Sidibe, the Oscar-nominated star of "Precious," will never work again. I think it was distasteful (if typical) that he made comments about her weight. That said, I think he was absolutely right.

This girl has peaked.

Not because she's not talented, but because she's an overweight African-American girl in Hollywood. I think we all know the odds there. E! Online mentioned that Sidibe is already working on a Showtime drama starring Laura Linney, but if anyone's wondering when her next big movie role is, I think you're going to be waiting for a long time.

People are attacking Stern for his comments, but they're not bringing up the elephant in the room -- the truth. Normally, when a woman is nominated for best lead actress for her film debut, she's stepping over offers left and right.

Now, it's possible that Sidibe is working on her television show and so hasn't been able to commit to another project yet ... but let's be honest, I think that's doubtful.

She's had to dodge questions about future movies on countless television shows.

Gabourey Sidibe’s Oscar dress mess

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:20:00 +0000

So last week I read this widely reblogged USA Today article in which Gabourey Sidibe's stylist, Linda Medvene (who?), proclaimed that "everyone" wanted to dress Gabby for the Oscars and then went on to name some lesser known designers like Kevan Hall.

Now if you had read this on USA Today's site and not on another blog that was linking to it, you would have noted, as I did, that they felt the need to put "full-sized" in quotes -- "Designers vie to dress 'full-sized' Gabourey Sidibe" -- like it's such a derogatory thing to say about a woman that they needed to soften the blow with ... well, kinda.

She IS full-sized, mofos. She's not ashamed of it. Stop trying to be ashamed for her! DAMN.

But this Linda Medvene ~~stylist~~ person did also proclaim that they had decided to go with Marchesa, a house known for the fab dresses they do for all the A-list actresses.

Body image revolution postponed

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:53:00 +0000

Lately, the media would have us believe that women loving their bodies just as they are is a trend that's about to start sweeping the world as fast as pink eye spreads through a preschool classroom or a salacious rumor through junior high. Glamour's finally started using plus-size models in response to reader demand! Crystal Renn can pull off the same high-fashion looks as a slightly smaller woman! Miss Universe 2004 dares to go un-Photoshopped on a magazine cover! Just look at how real we're getting, all of a sudden. It's a body image revolution, ladies.