Recently, my son and I went to visit his grandparents, and I downloaded a few cartoons on my phone to entertain him on the flight. We picked out a few episodes of Paw Patrol, a few of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, your usual fare. And he also picked a couple of episodes of Peppa Pig, a show we had watched occasionally before.Peppa Pig is a British cartoon aimed at preschoolers. Its about a family of pigs and their adventures, and as far as I can tell theres no real educational component or moral lessons involved. But it seems innocent enough.It wasnt until my 5-year-old had the sound blasting in our hotel room that I first overheard Peppa talking about Daddy Pigs big belly.I dont really like that, I told my son. We dont make fun of people for having big bellies. And then I heard it again. And again. Apparently, its a running gag in this show just how fat Daddy Pig is.Like on this episode,where Peppa makes the password to her treehouse Daddys big tummy and everyone laughs at him. Daddy tries (and fails) to enter the treehouse, and Peppa tells him thats because his tummy is too big. Peppa, girl, you already burnt him with the password, now let the man live!Of course Daddy pig goes on to get wedged in the door, although Mama Pig got in just fine and is roughly the same size as Daddy Pig. Poor Daddy Pig.So I knew we were really in trouble when Daddy Pig showed up in his trunks at the pool (starting at about 2:40 in this clip below).Sure enough, hes no sooner then said hes going to use the diving board than Peppa comes back with Silly Daddy, your tummy is too big. Or the episode, Daddy Gets Fit, which starts with the family watching an exercise show.Im naturally fit, Daddy Pig says.You dont look very fit, Daddy. Your tummy is a bit big, says Peppa. Seriously, Daddy Pig takes this kind of abuse on every episode! Not only is it not cool to go around making fun of people for being fat, but part of the recurring gag is Daddy Pig insisting he is fit and strong while Peppa undermines him by focusing on his fat belly.While sometimes it turns out that Daddy Pig isnt very fit, and doesnt like to exercise, in the pool episode he turns out to be a great diver who slips seamlessly into the water.As weve seen with Olympians and other athletes with larger frames, you cant tell how healthy someone is by looking at them. In fact, research shows that moderately obese people often live longer. The idea that you can tell how fit someone is by looking at them is definitely not one I want to pass on to my kids.And when I tweeted about my reaction the show,I found some other parents who had noticed the same thing.@msemilymccombs I banned that body-shaming show. The Lady Q (@The_Lady_Q) December 29, 2016 @msemilymccombs YES. It's caused my toddler to tell everyone they have "big daddy pig tummies" kitty (@kittons) December 29, 2016 A cursory search on Twitter found even more parents who have felt the same way.Ahh the regular dose of body shaming on Peppa Pig. Looking forward to one day explaining why some cartoon pigs are wrong to my daughter. Matt Collins (@charitychap) April 25, 2016 Might be time to ban #PeppaPig when the #child starts declaring "Daddy has a big fat tummy". Stupid bloody pig. #IHatePeppaPig J.J. Barnes (@JudieannRose) May 5, 2015 Jesus the body shaming in Peppa Pig is unreal. I thought Daddy Pig got it bad, but poor Uncle Pig is completely denied his pignity. Elvis Buuelo (@Mr_Considerate) March 30, 2016 The body shaming on Peppa Pig! Poor Daddy Pig. Some of us dads are in love with our very big tummies! Mike Reynolds (@EverydayGirlDad) July 4, 2015 Peppa pigs secret word for her tree house is daddy's big tummy. #peppapig is a bullyMrs Clarke (@MrsClarke2011) March 28, 2014 Too much fat shaming on Peppa Pig tonight. We should all be like Daddy Pig and love cookies! #momlife #NickJr Leana (@leanahersch) January 6, 2017 Peppa Pig is constantly fat-shaming Daddy Pig & honestly I'm pissed Teaselquist (@whatshakesloose) November 19, 2016 Ughhhh WHY is there so much damn fat-shaming on Peppa Pig, I may have to stop letting Kid watch Sophia (@sophiahelix) November 3, 2016 They're always riding Daddy Pig about his BIG TUMMY and now Kid is parroting it Sophia (@sophiahelix) November 3, 2016 WHY ARE WE ALWAYS FAT SHAMING DADDY PIG'! #NannyProblems #PeppaPig abi scott (@abikate93) October 13, 2016 I'm convinced the main purpose of the show Peppa Pig is to teach kids how to make fun of their parents with fat jokes. Sidney Gantt (@SidneyGantt) January 3, 2015 Why did the writers of peppa pig ever think I was appropriate to make fun of fat people'Kids think it's okay to laugh at 'daddy's big tummy' Louise Walker (@louisewalkerx) February 20, 2016 And then, theres this sad tweet from one dad:5yr old boy: "Daddy, your tummy's big."(Heart sinks)5yr old boy: "Just like the Daddy on Peppa Pig."Thanks a lot. Diet starts now. Shaun Noronha (@ShaunNoronha) July 29, 2015 Thats it, Peppa must be stopped! -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
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