‘I watched the Mean Girls musical – gives message that fat people don’t deserve kindness’

A Daily Star reporter, Jess Phillips, has shared her candid opinion about the Mean Girls musical upon watching the movie. 
Phillips is a big musical theatre fan who was excited for the release of 2024’s movie musical adaptation of Mean Girls.
The new movie, which is based on the 2004 Lindsay Lohan film, as well as the Broadway stage adaptation, had elements of fatphobia that Phillips was not happy with.
Phillips wrote: “Featuring iconic tracks like World Burn and I’d Rather Be Me, the musical promised to be everything I look for in a feel-good flick – uplifting, feminist and with enough pink to put the Barbie movie to shame. And for most of the flick, that’s exactly what I got.
“Only one aspect let me down. While Janis’ backstory was changed two decades after the original film’s release to tie in with more modern attitudes, the fatphobia was still rife throughout.
READ MORE: The Lindsay Lohan cocktail named after the Mean Girls star is every bit as fiery as she is
“2004’s film sees Regina accuse Janis of being a lesbian and ostracise her from the friend group; 2024’s changes that to establish Janis’ same-sex romances and turn the argument into one involving her being ‘obsessed’ with Regina and setting fire to her backpack.
“It’s a nod to the changing attitudes and how Gen-Zs are helping to stamp out homophobia. But when it comes to Cady feeding Regina Kalteen nutrition bars, which she claims will help her lose weight, the story is pretty much the same.”
Phillips explained that Kalteen bars are used for treating malnourishment. In Mean Girls, Cady convinces Regina that the bars will help her lose weight, when they will actually do the opposite. Cady’s motive is to undermine the Plastics and get payback on Regina for stealing Aaron back.
In one scene Regina, played by Renee Rapp, is not able to fit into anything except for sweatpants and isn’t allowed to sit with the Plastics table after her confessions that none of her clothes fit her anymore.
DON’T MISS:
Mean Girls audience audibly groans when they realize new remake is a musical
Lindsay Lohan ‘very hurt’ by ‘fire crotch’ reference in new Mean Girls by US rapper
Lindsay Lohan’s dad lashes out as new Mean Girls aims ‘disgusting’ joke at original star
When Cady turns a new leaf and returns to living a life that aligns with her pre-Plastic days, “no apology is given over the gross depiction of fatphobia,” says Phillips.
According to Phillips, the movie essentially says, “‘This is okay, because Regina was putting on weight, and fat people don’t deserve kindness.’”
Phillips added: “Back in 2004 it was easier to get away with. But in a 2024 movie aimed primarily at teen girls, it feels like negligence, especially considering the comments Rapp has made about her own experiences with body shaming.”