People Magazine has a video interview with Chrissy Metz to promote her new memoir, This is Me, which came out earlier this week. As we saw, Chrissy covered last week’s People Magazine. Advance details of her book reveal that her stepfather beat her when she was young and forced her to do weigh-ins. I know there’s not a lot of interest in Chrissy for some reason, probably because she’s just a good person who isn’t controversial. I always come away from her interviews with some wisdom and frankly inspiration. She came from extreme poverty and hardship and was totally broke and living with friends when she landed the role on This is Us. Here are some quotes from her People interview, which you can watch at the source.
On being raised by a single struggling mom
I appreciate my mom on so many levels for her sacrifices. It taught me so much humility and I’m really grateful for that. A juice box, a pair of shoes, a car, a purse doesn’t make you who you are. Those things you can’t take to wherever we go after we leave this plane of existences. That was, in a very difficult and roundabout way taught to me through some hardships.On telling personal stories that paint her family in a bad light
I’m concerned because I never want anybody to think I spoke ill of them for any particular reason other than to show this evolution of the friendship or how this lesson changed me. My intentions are good and I would never throw anyone under the bus because that’s not who I am.Chrissy didn’t see her biological father from the ages of 8 to 21
My father didn’t want to have a relationship with me. It’s heartbreaking, but ok. I think that every relationship has the potential to be mended. I think it’s important to at least try. Whether he’s ready or not I don’t know. He could see this interview and say ‘oh I never saw her perspective.’ He’s still a human being. I have respect for him in that regard. I don’t think we have to beg someone to be in our lives.
Notice that she prefaced all those expensive things, a car, a purse, with a juicebox! Her family was so poor she couldn’t bring a juicebox to school like the other kids. Also she doesn’t have a relationship with her biological father, who remarried the day his divorce with her mom was final, but she’s holding out hope that he’ll see her point of view. After that she talked about her stepdad and said that she was sure that raising three kids who weren’t his own must have been “challenging” and that “he had some stuff that he never worked out.” She’s trying to understand and relate to a man who was abusive to her. (Chrissy’s stepfather actually denied being abusive, for what it’s worth.) Victims do this, I’ve done this, and it’s heartbreaking.
As for her weight, Chrissy says that she eats her feelings and stuffs them down. There’s more in there about her, including her thoughts on relationships. She was actually married to a British screenwriter for a few years. She said “I don’t have to beg somebody to like me, love me, to call me to, to text me. I don’t have to be with someone. Nobody else is going to make me happy if I don’t make myself happy.” Chrissy impresses me so much. It’s not about her size or being “confident,” which the People contributors mention a few times, it’s her perspective.
photos credit: WENN and Backgrid
I wish her all the success and happiness in the world. She certainly deserves it.
I know of her, but dont follow. What I have seen is great.
She’s sweet and thoughtful. You also see her reaching out and ready to forgive toxic people. There’s hope.
Hope the best for her.
I don’t know much about her and I don’t watch This is Us, but I’m also amazed by her compassion. So many people turn hard when they’ve gone through the kind of turmoil she has, but she’s still holding out an open hand which is really incredible. She’s far more evolved than most of us, that’s for sure!
Yes, she’s had a tough life
As a young child I just always thought everyone was the same we all have similar life. Around 11 years old I as was approached by a white class mate where she asked if I had an extra dress ( we were having a spring dance/concert). I brought a couple to school next day she chose what she liked. It was the first time I truly realised that there are kids struggling in the here and now and not some far away country.
Its true material things don’t matter, we will leave it all behind but we judge people based on how they look and choose to behave accordingly.
I don’t watch the show, but I’m always impressed by her demeanor and the way she expresses herself. I wasn’t that mature at her age.
Ms Metz seems like a lovely nice person, however, she should lose some weight for her health and well-being. It’s hard to look at her without feeling that she is knocking on the door of a heart attack or a myriad of fatal conditions.
Really? Come on.
She’s like 400-500 pounds , of course she needs to lose weight.
That is a hot take that I bet she (or any fat person) has EVER heard before. Thank you for bringing that novel and new perspective to a narrative about her personality and life experiences. Because really, the only thing that matters is that you think she’s fat and you are going to dress that up as innocent ‘concern’.
thank you. fresh perspective. never seen before.
Yeah I bet she’s just obese because nobody ever told her this before ☹️
I’m pretty sure she has tried every diet under the sun. It is certainly not for lack of effort. I have a chronic illness and it has changed my body in ways I could never have imagined, and I am sure people look at me and think I am ugly or I am unhealthy but what can I do, besides all that I am already doing? My physical health and mental health are between me and my doctor and therapist.
And my value as a human is independent of my health status.
I feel the same way about obesity. What if it is a problem of a health issue? What if the person is just on the much bigger side as my sister has always been? They don’t owe me an explanation, because they are still human. Just like someone who looks anorexic doesn’t owe me an explanation.
@Domino
A quote straight from the post:
“As for her weight, Chrissy says that she eats her feelings and stuffs them down. “
It only took 3 comments for a concern troll to show up.
Yup, paranormalgirl, “concern troll” is exactly what that comment was. I have a friend who is a similar size. She is a lawyer, happily married with three happy children and has far more energy than me. I would never presume to discuss her weight.
I’d just like to thank you for your original take. Thank God there are people like you to tell her that. Whatever would she have done without you? Relied on doctors? On the thousands of other people exactly like you who feel it necessary to concern troll?
It was nice here for such a startingly brief amount of time…
To the previously morbidly obese people here, what got you over the hump and made you sustain your turn around?
Because I suspect that Chrissy “knows” that this will kill her soon but she doesnt know-know it. When you know-know something that monumentous, then every option is on the table including surgical intervention, a full time live in motivational coach, anti-depressants and daily therapy. Literally everything and the kitchen sink. She is in the privileged position of actually being able to pay for all of that without struggle too.
Yes maybe its “concern trolling” but I dont care. I am concerned and also stomped at whats blocking her from this realisation.
Was just going to say it’s so nice to see a post about Chrissy where the comments are about her as a person and not a bunch of weight BS… then you had to ruin that, thanks for that.
I’m just saying what people obviously don’t have the the honesty to express. I’m not “fat shaming”. I’m speaking the truth and everyone knows it.
Haha, I realized after I hit submit that my comment wasn’t going to make it through moderation (and it shouldn’t have) but just know, I had some ‘honesty’ about you too.
And again, we thank you for your service, noble one.
Thank you captain obvious.
Why do you care so much about her weight? It’s none of your business. You aren’t saying anything Chrissy doesn’t already know. Worry about your own health.
No honey you’re being an a-hole which I’m sure you realize considering you wrapped your crappy opinions up in phony concern.
Unless you are her physician, it is none of your business so keep your comments to yourself.
I adore her so much, she seems so genuine and sweet, inspirational is a good term for it. I want her to be healthy so she can be around with us longer, maybe releasing some of this will be healing for her. I just remembered I commented on a thread about her awhile back and forgot to go back, but is she still obligated to lose weight for her role as Kate? Seems like there was controversy around that in her contract but she said it was something she wanted to do.
I’m not sure if she’s still obligated contractually, but gastric surgery is like $10-$20k so if she wants it, she can afford it. But I admit I’m kind of uncomfortable with making a woman who struggles with her weight contractually obligated to lose weight. She’s already discussed how much her weight is entangled with her emotional state, it just doesn’t seem right to add the pressure of an entire storyline of a primetime network show.
For someone like Chris Hemsworth, the Marvel training was fine, but Chris Pratt has talked about how difficult it was for him emotionally and psychologically. I imagine that is only compounded when it’s a woman who has had her weight used against her in abusive situations.
Someone I know had gastric surgery and she’s documented everything she’s going through. Basically, you have to east a certain way for the rest of your life. My friend was ready for that decision, she may not be and it’s not a decision that should be taken lightly.
A juice box. My heart is in a puddle.
I love people who manage to accept where they are, even if it isn’t where society wants them to be. society tells us women who aren’t dieting cannot just live their life, unapologetically, cannot ever be happy. But I follow this plus size black comedian, and she smashes and has so much fun, or Aidy Bryant from SNL. They might be healthy, but it is not my business. I just follow them because they are funny and cute. But people will leave comments for them like how your boyfriend love you. It is messed up.
I find people who accept Anglo Saxon Euro beauty ideals tend to be more offended by big women and call them ugly or a health hazard but somehow don’t speak up as much when it comes to real health hazards killing people like cops walking free after killing Alton Sterling.
Ok has anyone seen the cover of her book? It’s a pic of her face close up…but it is heavily photoshopped. They took probably 15 pounds off her face. It barely looks like her. Why would she agree to that?
She looks gorgeous in that multi-colored dress!
This woman is at least 400 lbs. Let’s not all sit here and pretend she is “healthy”. It is impossible to be morbidly obese and healthy. She doesn’t have to be a stick thin woman but taking off 100 lbs would benefit her.
It’s so bizarre to me that so many people here are passionately concerned about her physical health and not her emotional and psychological health. She is a survivor of early childhood abuse. Most survivors go through a period of self-medicating for PTSD, depression, anxiety, etc as a phase in coming to terms with their abuse. It seems like her addiction was/is food (pretty benign in the scheme of things). What’s most important is that she heals her emotional wounds completely so she can stop using food as a cruch. Who cares what size her body is.
Thoughtful comment, effeff. I agree.
I agree.She even says as much. Food is her medicine and has been for a long time. Also I came from her interviews with the feeling that she wants to be loved and is ready to forgive and justify everyone for everything which…is not healthy. Where is her anger? Not even a little bit? She is faking it, not being honest with herself or worse, she really is like that. I wish someone comes out and says that being angry and not forgiving someone who did you bad is perfectly normal, that you can hate or resent people and move on by cutting them from your life. Then maybe if she releases all that energy she can start to heal and not eating her emotions away as she is doing. I mean forgiveness is good but to a certain point.
When we were in our 20 in my group of friends there was this one, always in love with love. She forgave her boyfriend over everything he did to her, and it was a lot, but she found relief in food most of the time. One day, and I was called rude by others, I confronted her as she was having problems with her colon because of malnutrition and asked her why she was being so good when it was unnatural and she started crying non stop giving the most bullshit explanations she could find. Trust me is not worth it to forgive always.
For closure, i like her. She plays her character with such ease and she looks natural in her role (sorry can’t find the right words here). Her scenes are flowing and not contrived at all. She is beautiful and I wish her all the best.
I think it’s great that she admitted she eats her feelings. Obviously her weight is at a very unhealthy level and I’m sure she knows it. But it’s also brave and good of her to addresses the underlying reason and not say that she’s just that way because metabolism or thyroid or that she’s just “curvy” or something like that. I hope she can overcome her problems soon and I also hope that it gives other morbidly obese people courage to take care of themselves emotionally and work on the underlying reason for their disordered eating. All the best to her!