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‘Phat’ Cards Replace ‘Fat’ Cards Given to Women on London Tubes

Two different cards with two very different messages distributed on public transport...

A group called ‘Overweight Haters Ltd’ have been giving out ‘Fat cards’ on tubes – with the word Fat written on one side and a message around why they disapprove on the back.

The message explains: ‘Our organisation hates and resents fat people. We object to the enormous amount of food resources you consume while half the world starves. We disapprove of your wasting NHS money to treat your selfish greed. And we do not understand why you fail to grasp that by eating less you will be better off, slimmer, happy and find a partner who is not a perverted chubby-lover, or even find a partner at all.’

Finally, it finishes with a pretty shocking comment: ‘We also object that the beatiful [their error, not ours] pig is used as an insult. You are not a pig. You are a fat, ugly human.’

The most prominent recipient was Kara Florish, whose tweet was picked up my multiple national news organisations. However, we did find more examples of people upset by the card tweeting – both men and women:

@kflorish pic.twitter.com/O2hTyTpD0D

— Kara Florish (@kflorish) November 28, 2015

@kflorish pic.twitter.com/gBIvj69WQ1

— Kara Florish (@kflorish) November 28, 2015

In response, an organisation called Wonderush – who offer people the opportunity to try out various activities in London for a monthly subscription, have decided to capitalise on the shaming activity.

Their offfering – the Phat card – carries a more positive message, and reads: ‘Our organisation loves and respects phat people. We like it when you spend time being your awesome self. We think it’s great when you do the things that make you happy rather than wasting a minute of your beautiful life. And we disapprove of those who hand out cards that make you feel anything less than the amazingly brilliantly awesome phat human that you are.’

They’re offering money off their subscription, finishing: ‘We thank you for being so phat by giving you a free month of unlimited classes and experiences with Wonderush.com, when you sign up using the code PHAT.’

Got given this #PhatCard on the tube this morning #NoFatCards #Awesome #Wonderush pic.twitter.com/ILq5P6ZUjQ

— Jaina Patel (@Jainap_6) December 1, 2015

Obviously the Phat card carries a much more positive message and we’re happy to see them cheering people up. However, to be honest we think it’s a bit of a shame that the actions of a few hateful individuals makes such a card necessary.

It’s not the first time we’ve been appalled to hear about women being fat shamed for absolutely no reason by strangers who know nothing about them. In August, we were shocked to hear that cyclist Elz Lloyd was insulted on two separate occasions, by other cyclists, on one ride in the Surrey Hills.

We hope that responsible will keep their ideas and thoughts inside their own heads, in future.