What you need to know
Influencer Samira Miller has clarified that “fatphobia is not harmless humor” after another creator mocked her in a now-deleted skit.
In a post uploaded to social media, creator Ezzy went shopping wearing a fat suit, facial prosthetics, and a “Big Girls Matter” shirt. In the video, she enters a store and asks a manager about plus-size clothing options, then pretends to try them on while complaining about the size of the fitting room.
Much of what Ezzie depicts in her videos mirrors Miller’s content, and she has built a following by highlighting the importance of size inclusivity and specifically asking about in-store inventory for plus-size people.
In Ezzy’s video, she also points out a parking meter sticker that mentions dieting, which Miller also featured in a recent viral video, further suggesting the skit was inspired by her content.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Miller condemned the now-deleted video but said, “This situation is not happening in a vacuum.”
“It’s a result of platforms and brands consistently allowing, excusing, and profiting from it. TikTok and Instagram allow fatphobic content, trends, and ads, while real fat bodies are warned, shadowbanned, or told that the bullying and harassment directed at them does not violate community guidelines,” she says. “Despite taking steps to publicly ban ‘skinnytok,’ TikTok continues to condone and amplify fatphobia, even nominating fatphobic creators for TikTok awards.”
She added, “Brands also play a role in this. When companies publicly champion inclusivity but continue to exclude fat people in real life, they reinforce the message that inclusivity doesn’t include fat people, even in spaces where size inclusion should be simple.”
“This isn’t about one fat suit or one brand or one platform. It’s about patterns,” she added. “Fat bodies should not be seen, fat bodies should not be heard. This is why I continue to speak out. Fatphobia is not harmless humor. It is systemic, and platforms and brands must take responsibility for the culture of fatphobia they create and continue to uphold.”
Ezzy deleted the video on January 12, 2025, and responded to the backlash on her Instagram Story the same day.
“I just want to say that the video I posted recently was meant as a joke. It was lighthearted and in no way meant to hurt anyone’s feelings,” she wrote. “I grew up on comedies like ‘The Nutty Professor,’ ‘Big Mama’s House,’ and ‘Norbit,’ so that kind of humor was always familiar to me.”
she continued. “I’ve played a variety of characters, and I’ve sometimes made fun of myself for my fluctuating weight over the years. But I’ve heard from some of my true supporters, and I respect that it may not have seemed that way. That’s why I decided to take the video down. I always want this space to be positive and make everyone who watches feel good.”
Ezzie did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
In an October 2025 interview with PEOPLE, Miller talked about the importance of content.
“I saw the discourse in my comment section from people who had internalized and externalized fatphobia, and people didn’t know what it was like to shop as a plus-size person,” Miller explained.
“There are a lot of people who don’t have as much hindsight as I do. People younger than me see these comments and are affected by them. They’re not used to someone standing up and saying, ‘You don’t have to deal with the bigotry that’s coming at you. You don’t deserve that,'” she continued. “When I choose to deal with negative emotions, it starts with letting others know that it’s not okay to receive hate, and that it’s not okay.”
