MovieChat Forums > The Nutty Professor (1996) Discussion > Why is it okay to make fun of a person's...

Why is it okay to make fun of a person's skin colour but not their size?

posted 9 years ago by HarveyManfredSinJohn
4 replies | jump to latest

Reggie, the stand-up comic, made fun of the white guy at the comedy club, but you didn't see him shedding a tear and feeling sorry for himself. Sherman however, who is responsible for his own size (unlike the white guy who can't help his skin colour) gets all "boo hoo", even though he was quite happy to laughe at the other people Reggie mocked.

At least Sherman could go on a diet and stop stuffing his damn face. What could the white guy do to stop being white?!?  

Welcome to today's world people. Where it's cool to make fun of people for being white, but a complete no-no to make fun of people for something they can actually do something about, their weight.

[–] countrygurl1990 9 years ago

This was addressed in the movie; he tried to lose weight, it just wasn't happening. Sherman said at one point, something to the effect of, "I'm always gonna be big." I think genetics play a big part for him; look at his family who are all obese.

I don't know, I could be wrong, just a thought.

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[–] TheFrinkahedron 9 years ago

Sherman was sensitive about his size. That's why he got all upset and he couldn't just brush it off like the other guy. Why would the white guy have been sensitive about his skin colour?

[–] WhoopsieThree-D 9 years ago

I didn't see it as Reggie mocking the white guy's skin color, but rather his exaggerated nerdy appearance, what with the silly suit and coke-bottle glasses. I didn't catch any race jokes when Reggie said, "uh, what is a weave, exactly?"; that was more a dig at how the man was dressed.


Logan, buddy. It's me, Deadpool! I shot youuuuuu....

[–] StephieVee 9 years ago

He made one joke, maybe two at the others. He was nonstop berating Sherman. While some may be responsible for their weight, it is genetic for some. Some people cannot control their weight anymore than they can control acne, hair loss, diabetes.