David Foster Faces Criticism for Calling Wife Katharine McPhee Fat on ‘American Idol’
David Foster, the renowned music producer, has recently come under fire for a resurfaced video in which he called his wife, Katharine McPhee, “fat” during her time on “American Idol.” The video, which has been making rounds on social media, has sparked a wave of criticism and debate about body shaming and the pressures women face regarding their appearance.
The controversy began when Foster shared a photo of McPhee on Instagram, showing her lounging in the grass in a black bikini. He captioned the photo, “what baby!”—a reference to her post-baby body after giving birth to their son, Rennie David, earlier this year. While some fans praised the post, others were quick to criticize Foster for his comment, accusing him of being insensitive and perpetuating unrealistic body standards.
In response to the backlash, McPhee took to Instagram to defend her husband. She posted another photo of herself in a bathing suit and addressed the criticism head-on. “I’m sorry but we are not sorry. And for all of you who can’t deal with it maybe this helps. I’ve struggled with weight my whole 20s and 30s. I’ve gone up and down 10 times over. Does that make you feel better? There is nothing wrong with that—most people do,” she wrote.
McPhee continued, “I lost this baby weight without dieting. Zero. Diets are the worst and I’ve had zero pressure from anyone. I’ve let my body do its thing and found a great workout. That’s it. And guess what? I’ll probably gain weight again at some point too. Who cares? BUT people freaking out about what my husband captioned seriously get a life… Stop being so offended by what people post who have zero impact on your life and move on.”
She concluded her post with a pointed message to her critics: “Maybe you should have more of an attitude of like, let’s say… ‘oh that’s nice he thinks his wife is hot.’ I cannot with this overly sensitive society right now. But as Taylor Swift said haters gonna hate 🤣 byyeeee.”
The couple, who welcomed their son Rennie in February and tied the knot in June 2019, have often been in the public eye. McPhee has been open about her struggles with body image and disordered eating in the past. In an interview with E! News, she revealed that her “biggest challenge” during pregnancy was the fear that her past issues with bulimia would resurface as her body changed. However, she found a new appreciation for her body after giving birth.
“What I didn’t expect was to have the baby and then be so at peace with my body,” McPhee said. “I had this, wow, like this huge appreciation of what my body had just done and given me that I wish that I’d given myself a little bit more of that grace through the pregnancy.”
Since Rennie’s birth, McPhee has embraced her post-baby body and has not felt pressured to lose weight quickly. “I actually had this huge gift where I felt zero pressure to kind of get back to a certain standard,” she said. “I was just like, ‘Wow, this is such a moment in time to enjoy a new baby and give thanks to this incredible body that just did something so spectacular, like truly a miracle.'”
Despite the criticism, Foster has continued to publicly praise his wife. In September, he commented on an Instagram post of McPhee’s, calling her a “hot mom” after she shared photos from a family trip to Canada. Regardless of public opinion, McPhee has expressed that being a mother is the “greatest job” she will ever have. “He’s such a good little baby and I’m so in love,” she told Kelly Clarkson during an appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”
The resurfaced video and subsequent backlash have reignited discussions about body shaming and the societal pressures women face regarding their appearance. While some argue that Foster’s comment was harmless and meant to be complimentary, others believe it highlights a deeper issue of unrealistic body standards and the objectification of women.
As the debate continues, McPhee’s response serves as a reminder of the importance of self-acceptance and the need to challenge societal norms around body image. Her candidness about her struggles and her journey towards body positivity resonate with many who have faced similar challenges.
In a world where social media often amplifies criticism and negativity, McPhee’s message is clear: embrace your body, ignore the haters, and focus on what truly matters.
Source: PEOPLE, E! News
