Thaindian News

Washington, Mar 25 (ANI): Comedian George Lopez has been slammed for comparing actress Kirstie Alley to a pig after her performance on ‘Dancing With the Stars’.

Lopez, 49, belittled Alley, 60, who was praised for cha cha cha on the show’s premiere, during his show ‘Lopez Tonight’ on TBS.

“She did a nice job, her little hooves tapping away. Before the show, she went to the market, and then she had roast beef and this is her going all the way home!” Fox News quoted him as saying, before cutting to a squealing pig from a GEICO commercial.

Many were not amused by the callous “joke,” especially considering that Alley has struggled very publicly with weight issues over the years, at one point tipping the scales at 230 pounds and sparking speculation she suffers with a compulsive eating disorder.

“Lopez’s comments were not only demeaning to Alley, who has been incredibly brave and open with her journey toward health, but they were very detrimental to women and girls everywhere,” Yana Walton, Vice President of Communications for watchdog group the Women’s Media Center, said.

“In a country where eating disorders are an epidemic, where advertising continually implies women are deeply deficient, where media places the majority of women’s worth on their appearances, this is unacceptable.

“Lopez should use his creativity to make jokes that aren’t this harmful. And Alley should be judged on her dancing. After all, this is a show about dance - it’s not ‘The Biggest Loser’,” Walton stated.

Terri Dougherty, editor of Women Magazine, feels some in Hollywood need to shape up and actually produce some original, funny material.

“Lopez made a cheap shot that simply was not very funny. Dancing is excellent exercise and I’m happy to see Kirstie out there,” Dougherty said.

“Making fun of a person’s looks may be a standard part of comedians’ acts, but this certainly was not a fresh or humorous take,” she stated. (ANI)