Amy Schumer Reacts to Ashley Graham’s Comments in ‘Cosmopolitan’

Brexit, “Lemonade,” and a wee little swimming Phelps have all happened since Amy Schumer criticized Glamour for featuring her (without her knowledge) in the “Chic At Any Size!” issue in March. And it’s a hot topic again because Ashley Graham has spoken out against the comedian’s response to the editorial decision in an interview with Cosmopolitan.

“I can see both sides, but Amy talks about being a big girl in the industry. You thrive on being a big girl, but when you’re grouped in with us, you’re not happy about it? That, to me, felt like a double standard,” Graham said in the cover story.

Schumer who has since joked about being a “famous plus-size model,” took to Twitter Thursday to say this in response to the professional model’s thoughts on body pride, “I totally understand Ashley’s feelings. I don’t group myself in with her because she is unbelievably beautiful. Nothing but respect for her.”

Graham responded sweetly to Schumer’s tweet, to which Schumer responded in kind. “I have the greatest respect for @amyschumer! So glad to be able to exchange thoughts, ideas & opinions w/ another incredible female force, “Graham posted on Twitter. Schumer replied, saying “Rock on girl. I’m so grateful for you. You inspire me!!!”

It’s a nuanced conversation so quick recap: When the Glamour issue dropped, Schumer took to Instagram to say this, “I think there’s nothing wrong with being plus size. Beautiful healthy women. Plus size is considered size 16 in America. I go between a size 6 and an 8. @glamourmag put me in their plus size only issue without asking or letting me know and it doesn’t feel right to me. Young girls seeing my body type thinking that is plus size? What are your thoughts? Mine are not cool glamour not glamourous.” The picture showed the cover, which featured “Women Who Inspire Us;” Melissa McCarthy, Adele and Schumer.

Schumer’s message seemed to call out the media’s role in perpetuating Hollywood’s warped body image paradigm, rather than, as Graham suggests, distance herself from women who take onesies in larger sizes. In a second post, the comedian who has long used comedy to call out attractiveness and size standards wrote, “Thanks for your thoughts to the people who didn’t tell me how I “should feel” Bottom line seems to be that these labels are unnecessary and reserved for women #muchlove.”

Glamour issued this statement in response to Schumer, who has covered mainstream issues of Vanity Fair and Vogue since:

“First off, we love Amy, and our readers do too—which is why we featured her on the cover of Glamour last year. The cover line on this special edition—which is aimed at women size 12 and up—simply says “Women Who Inspire Us,” since we believe her passionate and vocal message of body positivity IS inspiring, as is the message of the many other women, of all sizes, featured. The edition did not describe her as plus-size. We are sorry if we offended her in any way.”