When Karl Lagerfeld said that she was rather too fat, many were outraged at the insolence and presumption. This was a fashion designer commenting on the looks of one of the great artists that we have seen in the last decade. In response Adele pointed out the fact that she did not want to be skinny or for her body to be sexualized. This was an indirect reference to the modern culture of young women who are valued for nothing more than the titillation that they can provide to their lustful fans. From that perspective she has a point but one wonders why the argument started in the first place. Couldn’t Karl learn to “shut up and look cute”?
Making judgments on outward appearances
The fashion industry is traditionally shallow and we should not be too surprised at the reaction from Karle Lagerfeld. The problem of skinny models and anorexia has been covered extensively. Anyone from that kind of culture might find it difficult to identify Adele who refuses to conform to the stereotypes. Her voice does all the talking and it is a magnificent instrument that has led her to the altar of the award ceremonies. In fact everyone should be celebrating the voice rather than concentrating on minor details such as the weight of the person that is producing it. The fans certainly seem to enjoy the music above everything else.
The singer was doing an interview with Anderson Cooper when she revealed her thoughts about the ongoing controversy about her size and proportions. She said that she hopes that viewers will not be confused about what she is and what she stands for. This is a great retort to people who might want to change Adele into one of their caricatures. She is certainly not intending to become a fashion model any time soon although some people might be glad to see her sticking it to the snotty designer.
