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Najimy Says Auf Wiedersehen to "Project Runway"

Kathy NajimyKathy Najimy won't be watching "Project Runway" anymore.

The former "Veronica's Closet" star is upset with "dangerous" comments made by Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn on last week's episode pertaining to plus-size women.

Najimy, who over the years has lost 160 lbs, sent a passionate e-mail to Bravo exec Andy Cohen, who is a friend of Kathy's, outlining her grievances with the episode, which Cohen has since posted on his blog.

Kathy took particular issue with Gunn calling one of the runway models "zaftig" (pleasantly plump) and Heidi's comment that an outfit made a model look plus-size, which Najimy believes implied that plus-size was "the ultimate of horrors."



In the e-mail Najimy points out how these comments, along with societal pressure to be thin, are particularly harmful to the body images of young girls.

Najimy adds "And I especially hope that Heidi Klum's beautiful daughter never has to grow up in the self-hatred and self-mutilation that occurs when girls and women are suffocated by irresponsible, dangerous comments like the ones Heidi made..."

On his blog, Cohen came to Klum's defense by saying "Heidi cares a lot about little girls watching the show and about the image that we project."

Last night's episode lightly touched on the topic by having the contestants design everyday outfits for "everyday women" and featured the designers' own mothers and sisters as models.

While Kathy may not be watching anymore episodes, by the looks of "Project Runway's" plus-size ratings this year, it looks like everybody else sure is!

Tags: Heidi Klum, HeidiKlum, Kathy Najimy, KathyNajimy, Project Runway, ProjectRunway

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16. This is the second Project Runway faux pas; the first one was calling small dogs "the hottest new fashion accessory". Shame shame shame to BravoTV and NBC! The corporations that advertise on all NBC affiliated channels will be getting NONE of my business.

Perhaps, Kathy (being a celebrity) can get a public apology from Bravo for both of their faux pas.

Dee

Posted at 3:46PM on Aug 24th 2006 by Dee

17. Some of the designers kept laughing and saying thaey had no idea what to do with that much fabric....I have never made anything this size...What are you kidding me...Take a look around in the real world...Woman are not a size 2...Most are 12-14.....I can't beleive they didn't take that stuff out before airing the show...Maybe this is way woman stick there finger down there throat after eating.....I will not be watching the show after lastnight.................1#chris I am sure your parents are really proud (your an ass)

Posted at 3:49PM on Aug 24th 2006 by brenda

18. No Heidi isnt a bitch.

A model is sopose to be size 2 or a 0.
America is fat,obese ad disgusting. People are looking to make excuses to feed their faces and for their asses to get wider. "oh its not my fault" , "lets sue mcdonalds for getting me fat'... well what about walking 2-3miles a day, eating more salad(w/o TONS of salad dressing on it and mayo salads added on). STop eating at mcds, bk and wendys.

Ever go to the mall and honestly look at what the sizes are and what they are wearing, its pure horror. Young girls wearing tank tops and jeans w/a roll hanging over the edge of the jeans. Do they think they look good or sexy?

The average size is a 14 for a person, that isnt good ,that is allowing people to get fat and saying 'oh shes normal and average now at a 14". Not that everyone has to be a 2,4, 6.

But come on, lets get real. Heidi isnt a 14 and she didnt get where she is from eating mcds and having a roll over the top of her jeans and a gunt making her jeans tight w/camel toe being accented.

Posted at 4:12PM on Aug 24th 2006 by sherri

19. Stop trying to get press anyway you can. Get off your fat ass and do a movie or tv, dont try to get press by creating drama. Besides, if it bothered them that much...go on a diet! If it is so offensive being plus sided, choose a salad instead of a burger. Go to the gym instead of McDonalds. Run the track you cow, not ur mouth!

Posted at 4:19PM on Aug 24th 2006 by VICTORIA

20. I agree with Kathy. The world has enough hate towards "fat" people that it disheartens me to see it on a TV show that I used to watch faithfully. I will not watch this show anymore though. But hey, I guess that is why it is called reality TV. Good luck Project Runway I am done with you.

Posted at 4:19PM on Aug 24th 2006 by Leesa

21. i eat burger king, wendys, and mcdonald's and am not even CLOSE to being a large chick. do you realize that most athletes or body-builders are considered overweight because their BMIs are so high due to their muscle mass? that isnt taken into account when coming up with weight averages for the country. yes, it is sad that so much of the country is heavy, but that doesnt make any difference to this debate about comments made on a national show. models arent "supposed" to be a size 2. i dont know where youre getting your information. did you ever check heidis size, or cindy crawfords? heidi is no tiny girl, and i know for a fact that cindy wore an 8-10 because of her stature and somewhat athletic body. you are talking out of your rear-end. maybe youd be happier if you ate something other than those salads of yours. stop starving yourself trying to look like one of those sad, skinny famous girls. its gross, and most men will even tell you theyd rather have a girl with curves to hold onto than a stick-figure. bones arent comfortable to snuggle with. get with it.

Posted at 4:21PM on Aug 24th 2006 by Paige

22. oh. i forgot to tell you that i wear a 4. i guess im wayyyy too big to be a model, huh? HA.

Posted at 4:23PM on Aug 24th 2006 by Paige

23. The "she looks like a plus-size model" comment didn't offend me nearly as much as Jeffrey's behavior towards his "model" on last night's show. That woman was made to feel like she didn't count, didn't matter, and deserved what HE wanted her to wear, regardless of what she had expressed to him, and she ended up looking like an unmade bed. As a size 14 /16, I took major offense to him. His designs are usually crap that normal people wouldn't wear on the street anyway, and I cannot see why he was retained after I'm sure, the producers were made aware of the nasty comments he made to and about Angela's mother. That woman was disrespected twice - by Jeffrey and by the show, as he was allowed to stay and his behavior was not even addressed at the runway in front of all the designers and other mothers.

Posted at 4:23PM on Aug 24th 2006 by diana huffman

24. The most beloved sex symbol of all time MARILYN MONROE, fluctuated between a size 12 and a 14 . Need I say more????? You go Kathy!! You're beautiful.

Posted at 4:36PM on Aug 24th 2006 by JENNIFER

25. Her comments seemed rather condescending. You'd think she would have been prepped on presenting her thoughts this week. The relatives probably thought this would be really fun, rather than bordering on humiliating.

Posted at 4:36PM on Aug 24th 2006 by Merz

26. Marilyn Monroe the greatest sex symbol of all time, fluctuated between a size 12-14. Need I say more???? Kathy you go girl!! You're beautiful.

Posted at 4:43PM on Aug 24th 2006 by JENNIFER

27. I can totally understand why everyone is so pissed off. Almost every woman I know races to the nearest mall when designers have just released their new clothing line that makes them look bigger than they really are.

Posted at 4:45PM on Aug 24th 2006 by John

28. Wait, so you're saying... fashion models don't actually look like a majority of American women? I AM SHOCKED AND APPALLED.

Where's the backlash from just about every season of America's Next Top Model? Perhaps Heidi and Tim's comments were out of line, but I think we can at least all agree that Allison's dress was seriously ugly, right?

Posted at 4:49PM on Aug 24th 2006 by daygloparker

29. I can understand why she was offended. However, what is wrong with being plus size. Why can't people just be fat if they want to. Who says you have to be a certain size anyway. Who says being a size 6 is the right size to be. Be whatever you want, it is your life.

Posted at 5:13PM on Aug 24th 2006 by Jamie

30. While it is great to encourage people to "love themselves for who they are" it is NOT OKAY to be overweight -- JUST FOR YOUR HEALTH PEOPLE!!! HEART DISEASE!!! PREMATURE DEATH!!! LETTING YOU KIDS FALL INTO THE SAME DISGUSTING EATING AND LOUNGING HABITS!!!

Come on. Criticism towards fat people can lead to eating disorders, but it can also be a giant wakeup call. And I am by no means a skinny perfect bitch. I am overweight, and I go to the gym to correct my PROBLEM. YES BEING OVERWEIGHT IS A PROBLEM. We should never forget this.

The average size of a person in america is 14. The average person is ALSO overweight. Its NOT OKAY FOR YOUR BODY TO BE BIG. Put down your f*cking french fries and hit the treadmill. Dont criticize people who criticize overweight people. Criticize yourself.

Posted at 5:13PM on Aug 24th 2006 by Cat

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