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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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(Page 7 of 8) Previous 15 Comments | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

91. I watched the episode with the Mothers and sister of the contestants surprising the designers.............and shocking the designers when they heard that they would be designing an outfit...not for THEIR Mother or sister but someone else's!
And you might know Jeffrey got Angela's Mother . I f you watch the show you know Jeffrey and Angela do not get along. Amgela cries, whines and complains. ..and always tears up the sewing machine which really pisses Jeffrey off. Jeffrey is REAL high strung.......he's so tense about being on the show he acts with 'bluster' to cover up the fact he's so nervous. His Mother explained he was a recovering alcholic and used to have a problem with drugs...........and she was so proud he had pulled himself up and turned his life around.
When he walked up and heard Angela's Mother complaining to Gunn behind his back about the colos he'd picked for he lost it! He picked the dark purple and navy as she had asked-his plan was to add the lighter lavender to make the outfit 'pop'--Angela's Mother is a PLUS size. She should not have whined behind Jeffrey's back! He was embarressed and he told her how he felt. It would have been better if he had said nothing....but it would have better if she had nothing too.

Posted at 1:32AM on Aug 26th 2006 by Rena Hamrick

92. Too bad we are more concerned with the outside packaging and not so concerned for what our brain spews out our mouths! Frankly, I have such a full life that I don't have time to criticize how everyone looks or what size they are.
I care more about what is in your heart and how you spend your life and if you are helping others. Boo to "potty mouth's."

Posted at 12:34PM on Aug 26th 2006 by Judith

93. #81, if someone were designing an outfit for you and you thought it made you look older, or just didn't like the color, when asked what you thought? Which is what happened .."You wouldn't say that you did not like it or the color if you were asked"? Be honest...if I were asked and it were yellow...and stupid looking..I would do the same...she said she didn';t care for it...and that sent Jeffrey...always a hot head over the edge.....he does not know how to get along with people....he was rude...good thing it weasn't my mother....he would be sipping through a straw...by the way the judges agreed with Angelas mother...that's why he was in the bottom 2.....

Posted at 11:16AM on Aug 26th 2006 by Texas

94. It is interesting to note that, for the most part, the women were also picked in order of size. What might actually be a great challenge would be to design for a real plus-size model...therein lies the real art form of design. It's easy to make that which is already pleasing to the eye more so, but let us not forget there is a whole group of women (and men) that are underserved by fashion, and often the fashions are completely UNfashionable and unsuitable for adult women. (Afterall, how many adult women really want shirts with teddy bears and flower appliques on them??) It will be a great day in our society when we can see the beauty in each individual that lies beneath the surface.

Posted at 2:20PM on Aug 26th 2006 by Fiona

95. This is all a big overreaction. The point of the show is to design clothes that are flattering on women. As PC as we all want to be about how big women are beautiful, I doubt that many women out there--fat, thin, or in-between--would favor clothing that makes them look heavier. Heidi's point was that if a professional model looks "plus-sized" in an outfit, imagine how an everyday woman would look.

Posted at 3:05PM on Aug 26th 2006 by Fanatical

96. I agree #83 she did have every right to say she didn't like the outfit. If that Michael person didn't act like such a monster the whole situation probably wouldn't have been that big a deal.

Posted at 9:32PM on Aug 26th 2006 by Cam

97. Not for nothing, but I agree with Kathy. Last night, I was watching Heidi, Tim and Nina on Larry King and thought it was very strange how the last caller who was trying to ask about plus size was conveniently cut off by Larry and they all played stupid and continued on like the call never existed. Extremely unprofessional.

I was not happy with the comments they made on that week's show regarding plus size and now I'm no longer a fan of the show after last night. Not for nothing, but by the look of what these group is doing, fashion will be going on a downward climb.

Posted at 1:16AM on Aug 27th 2006 by Karen

98. Well, for all of you that state.."you don't know Paris"... do you know her personally????...This is a blog about her disgusting actions......these are our opinions, ..and I have mine.... she quite franlky...leaves little to the positive side......No... I don't KNOW her.......I didn't know Adolf Hitler either, but what I did know about him, my opinion is ......that he was possibly the worst HUman alive...She emits a persona....very distasteful...she should do something great...clean up the act ....Perhaps her peers may respect her....I for one do not...she insults the Hilton name....shes an idiot......

Posted at 9:15PM on Aug 27th 2006 by Texas

99. DISREGARD...LAST COMMENT #88...WRONG...BLOG....INTERESTING STUFF OVER THERE THOUGH

Posted at 9:37PM on Aug 27th 2006 by Texas

100. OH COME ON, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT MODELS ARE SUPPOSE TO BE SKINNY. ITS JUST A FACT. IM CHUBBY MYSELF, BUT IM REALISTIC AND ACCEPT THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE. DESIGNERS ARE MENT TO MAKE CLOTHES FOR SKINNY PEOPLE. AND FAT PEOPLE,.....WELL, THEY NEED TO QUIT BITCHING.

Posted at 5:21AM on Aug 28th 2006 by ROSIE

101. You have to take the show for what it is---a fashion show for petite women.They are not going to make those clothes to fit women over the size of 8. What gets me every week is how awful Heidi Klum looks! She has no fashion sense. Her choice of oufits are hidious.Don"t you all agree?

Posted at 10:25AM on Aug 28th 2006 by ELLEN ZELTER

102. actually, the average model size is an 8.

Posted at 11:27AM on Aug 28th 2006 by summer25

103. petite is 5'4" and under, which those models are not.

Posted at 2:36PM on Aug 28th 2006 by summer25

104. Her choice of fashion....and men leave little to be desired.....most models have no fashion sense...wish I had someone to dress me.....

Posted at 12:40PM on Aug 28th 2006 by Texas

105. I'm so glad that Project Runway did not get an Emmy. After both faux pas, they did not deserve to win.

Posted at 8:24PM on Aug 28th 2006 by Dee

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