Model allegedly body-shamed by Uber driver. Will we ever stop commenting on women’s bodies?

This is not the first time Tess Holliday is facing people who assume they are entitled to an opinion on her body size.

By: Priyal Ray |
April 20, 2017 1:52 pm

Experiences of several plus-sized models and body positive celebs will tell you the world has a long way to go when it comes to accepting that women can be of different sizes. From random people commenting on Instagram bringing down successful women for eating crisps to magazines subtly body-shaming several others, one too many such experiences exist. Tess Holliday’s incident is here to add to the club.

The popular plus-sized model was asked about her cholesterol and whether or not she is healthy by an Uber-driver, not out of concern we assure you. Tess has been featured on Vogue Italia and has been involved in a shoot with Marie Claire UK’s December 2015 edition. Not one to stay shut about such bullying, Tess took to Instagram and put out a video of the incident.

Hey @uber I don’t pay more to use your “black car” service to be told that there’s no way I could possibly be healthy because I’m fat & then questioning it. No one should have to tolerate this at any level of the services you offer. I’m fat. I also have a fat wallet & will no longer be using your services. Ever. Also after I told him I was healthy he turned the radio off & changed the subject. #putmymoneywheremymouthis #uberdriver #uber Edited to add: saying my driver is fat was obviously being used as a descriptor & not to insult him. Also I did not show his face or use his name when filming, it was to be able to show what I deal with daily & why this behavior is unacceptable from anyone.

A post shared by Plus Model_Mom _Feminist_ (@tessholliday) on Apr 18, 2017 at 4:29pm PDT

The model soon put in an edit explaining how she did not use the adjective ‘fat’ for her driver as anything apart from a description. Of course, the fact that she used the word cannot be ruled out but to take a cab and pay huge amounts of money for it only to get insulted on one’s body size does not invite a pleasant response anywhere.

Holliday made it clear that she was going to stop using Uber and not pay for their services from her ‘fat wallet’. Uber has been in trouble not very long back as well when they managed to pull off antics good enough to have #DeleteUber trending. But when it’s Tess Holliday you mess with, let’s just say Uber’s PR is going down real bad after this.