Pose writer Our Lady J slams ‘body shaming’ Golden Globes coverage
Our Lady J attends the Amazon Prime Video’s Golden Globe Awards After Party at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 6, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Neilson Barnard/Getty)
Our Lady J, the producer of trans-themed TV show Pose, has hit out at “body-shaming” coverage of the Golden Globes, after she landed on a worst-dressed list.
The TV writer and producer, who also worked as a producer on Amazon’s Transparent, was included in an LA Times list of the worst-dressed celebrities attending the awards ceremony on January 7.
The piece had said: “Our Lady J is wearing one of our least favourite looks — a busy mermaid gown — at the 76th Golden Globes in Beverly Hills. A simpler green gown would have worked marvellously.”
Pose writer Our Lady J revealed her struggles finding a Golden Globes dress
The TV writer hit back at the comments, pointing out that at a trans woman it is hard for her to find designer dresses for her body shape.
“This was one of 8 gowns in the entirety of Los Angeles that fit my body, and I chose it because it fit my body.”
— Our Lady J
She said: “Thank you @latimes for body-shaming me on a night celebrating the talents of my MIND, not my BODY.
“It’s not my first time on a worst-dressed list, so I’m not at home crying. But I am angry that you don’t understand the fact that top designers don’t make clothes for my body.”
Our Lady J attends the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 6, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty)
She added: “I am a 6’2” trans woman who weighs a healthy 225 lbs. This was one of 8 gowns in the entirety of Los Angeles that fit my body, and I chose it because it fit my body.
“I think it’s beautiful, but yes, I would love to have the option to wear the dresses that are on your ‘best’ list.”
Our Lady J added: “When you judge women for what they’re wearing, you’re not only judging the fabric on their bodies — you are judging their actual bodies, the medical history of their bodies, and the emotional struggle they have with their bodies because of articles like this.”
Pose was snubbed at Golden Globes
Despite critical acclaim and several nominations, Pose left the Golden Globes empty-handed.
The Ryan Murphy TV show was up for Best Drama Series at the event but lost out to The Americans, while Pose actor Billy Porter was also snubbed in the best actor category.
Pose, which airs on FX in the US, is set in 1980s New York, and portrays life in the city’s iconic queer ballroom culture as most famously portrayed in the film Paris is Burning.
The show features the most transgender actors of any TV show in recent history, as well as a diverse behind-the-camera crew.
Its first season has won acclaim from critics and viewers alike for its rich portrayal of queerness and inclusion of trans people at every stage of the creative process.
Pose is returning for a second season in 2019
Work on a second season is underway.
FX CEO John Landgraf said: “Ryan Murphy has once again revolutionised television with Pose, an incredibly engaging story of creativity, courage, compassion, love and family at a pivotal time in our culture.
“As television critics have universally acknowledged, there is simply nothing like Pose on TV, so effortlessly excelling on every creative level and earning a place in television history for its infectiously inclusive spirit.”
Murphy, who has a string of other behemoth TV shows on air—anthology shows American Horror Story, American Crime Story and Feud and procedural 9-1-1—previously vowed to donate all the profit from Pose to LGBT causes.
He confirmed: “I am donating 100 percent of my profits from my new FX show Pose towards trans and LGBTQ charitable organisations. These groups do amazing work and need our support.”
One of the benefactors is The Sylvia Rivera Law Project, named in honour of transgender LGBT rights pioneer Sylvia Rivera.
