Singer Carnie Wilson reminisces about facing criticism over her weight prior to the release of Wilson Phillips music videos.
Rewritten Article:
Carnie Wilson takes no prisoners when recounting her rocky road to fame, where her talent took a backseat to her weight, as revealed in a heartfelt conversation on Billy Corgan's The Magnificent Others podcast. Back in the early ‘90s, Wilson was juggling half an album when a record exec from SBK Records, Arma Andon, dealt a blow that left a lasting scar.
"One day, during our recording sessions, maybe we had recorded half the album, and he came in and said to me, 'What are we going to do about this weight problem of yours?'" Wilson vividly remembers. The sting still fresh.
She didn't just shed a tear – she lashed out. "I told him, 'You're so funny and great. But why did you say that to me? It hurt me badly.'" The exec, surprisingly, owned up to his blunder, apologizing profusely.
That incident left a mark, especially on set. Wilson admitted to being repeatedly tucked away in music videos, hidden in shadows. "It was always, 'Hide Carnie in the videos,'" she recalled.
Despite feeling like a shadow, Wilson found a strange sort of power in being the one who stood out. "Being different... became part of my armor," she shared.
However, "different" came at a cost. On the video shoot for their 1992 single You Won't See Me Cry, Wilson shared the brutal tactics she underwent to fit into the mold of "acceptable."
"I was bleeding from wearing corsets that were sucking me in, trying to make me look as skinny as possible. I had sores on my waist from cinching and trying to look skinny. It was just awful."
For Wilson, weight has been a constant battle, resorting to gastric bypass surgery in 1999 and later lap band surgery. But she's adopted a healthier approach now. In April 2024, Wilson told People she finally found peace, ditching sugar and gluten in September 2023 and shedding 45 pounds.
"I feel so much better," she beamed. "I treat my body with respect now."
While information about Wilson's specific experiences with weight discrimination in the music industry during her early career is scarce, it's well-known that she faced weight-related challenges throughout her career. In the entertainment industry, weight discrimination often involves pressures to conform to a certain body image, which can impact an artist's psyche and career. Wilson's public struggles with weight and body image suggest she likely faced such challenges.
- Carnie Wilson's weight was a persistent concern, even as she worked on her album, with one executive, Arma Andon, directly addressing the issue.
- Wilson found herself repeatedly hidden in shadows during video shoots, a clear indication of the weight-related discrimination she faced in the industry.
- The entertainment industry, specifically, often puts pressure on artists to conform to a certain body image, which can have profound effects on an artist's mental health and career, as seen in Wilson's experiences.
- In a bid to fit the mold of 'acceptable,' Wilson underwent brutal tactics, including wearing corsets that caused her physical pain.
- Despite her turbulent past with weight issues, Wilson has embraced a healthier lifestyle, choosing to treat her body with respect and ditching sugar and gluten, resulting in a weight loss of 45 pounds.
