Amy Schumer Says She’s a ‘Great Choice’ to Portray Barbie, Slams Critics

Amy Schumer Image by Getty Images

By Josefin Dolsten December 9, 2016

(JTA) — Amy Schumer wasn’t having it after it was reported that she would play Barbie in an upcoming movie — and social media users slammed the Jewish comedian for her weight.

Schumer shared a photo of herself in a bathing suit on Instagram and a message about self-acceptance and not letting haters get to her.

“Is it fat shaming if you know you’re not fat and have zero shame in your game? I don’t think so,” she wrote Tuesday.

Schumer then thanked her fans and addressed critics who said her weight precluded her from playing the iconic doll in the live-action film.

“Thanks to everyone for the kind words and support and again my deepest sympathy goes out to the trolls who are in more pain than we will ever understand,” she wrote. “I want to thank them for making it so evident that I am a great choice. It’s that kind of response that let’s you know something’s wrong with our culture and we all need to work together to change it.”

The Sony-produced movie will address topics of beauty, feminism and identity, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Schumer is also expected to work on the script.

Incidentally, Barbie has a Jewish background: She was the brainchild of Ruth Mosko Handler, who founded the Mattel toy company with her husband, Elliot. Barbie debuted in 1959. According to the Jewish Women’s Archive, Handler, who died in 2002, was the youngest of 10 children born to Polish Jewish immigrants.

Very very honored to be nominated for 2 Grammys and to be considered to play an important and evolving icon. Is it fat shaming if you know you’re not fat and have zero shame in your game? I don’t think so. I am strong and proud of how I live my life and say what I mean and fight for what I believe in and I have a blast doing it with the people I love. Where’s the shame? It’s not there. It’s an illusion. When I look in the mirror I know who I am. Im a great friend, sister, daughter and girlfriend. I’m a badass comic headlining arenas all over the world and making tv and movies and writing books where I lay it all out there and I’m fearless like you can be. Thanks to everyone for the kind words and support and again my deepest sympathy goes out to the trolls who are in more pain than we will ever understand. I want to thank them for making it so evident that I am a great choice. It’s that kind of response that let’s you know something’s wrong with our culture and we all need to work together to change it. Anyone who has ever been bullied or felt bad about yourself I am out there fighting for you, for us. And I want you to fight for yourself too! We need to laugh at the haters and sympathize with them. They can scream as loud as they want. We can’t hear them because we are getting shit done. I am proud to lead by example. “I say if I’m beautiful, I say if I’m strong. You will not determine my story. I will” #thegirlwiththelowerbacktattoo

A photo posted by @amyschumer on Dec 6, 2016 at 12:10pm PST

Josefin Dolsten is a New York-based writer who has reported for the Forward, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, The Times of Israel and other Jewish publications. She currently works as an account director at Fenton Communications, supporting organizations that work to advance racial justice, LGBTQ+ equality, reproductive rights and more. Dolsten earned her B.A. in government from Cornell University and her M.A. in comparative religion and Jewish studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

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