Matt Lucas claims he's been 'thin shamed' after woman at Arsenal game asks him why he's lost weight

Matt Lucas claims he's been 'thin shamed' after woman at Arsenal game asks him why he's lost weight
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Jamie  Micklethwaite

By Jamie Micklethwaite


Published: 25/04/2022

- 12:04

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 11:05

The Arsenal fan was accosted by a woman at the Man United match who commented on his new appearance

Little Britain co-creator Matt Lucas claims to have been fat shamed after losing weight post-lockdown.

The Bake-off star posted a picture of himself looking noticeably slimmer at the Arsenal vs Manchester United match.


But Lucas, 48, said his new slimmed down appearance was criticised.

He wrote: "Shout out to the lady who stopped me at football today to ask me why I've lost weight and to inform me I look a lot older.

"For the first time in my life, I think I've been fat shamed."

Undated handout photo issued by Channel 4 of Matt Lucas, who is taking part in The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer.
Undated handout photo issued by Channel 4 of Matt Lucas, who is taking part in The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer.
Mark Bourdillon/Channel 4

Known as being one of the minds behind Little Britain, the classic sitcom has seen its fair share of edits since returning to BBC iPlayer.

The BBC has returned Little Britain to iPlayer after its creators made edits to “better reflect the changes in the cultural landscape” since the show first aired 20 years ago.

The comedy series from Lucas and David Walliams was removed from various services including Netflix and BritBox in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.

It had faced criticism because of the use of blackface make-up in some sketches.

Picture of Matt Lucas who joined The Great British Bake Off
Picture of Matt Lucas who joined The Great British Bake Off
PA Features Archive/Press Association Images

A BBC spokesman said: “Little Britain has been made available to fans on BBC iPlayer following edits made to the series by Matt and David that better reflect the changes in the cultural landscape over the last 20 years since the show was first made.”

Lucas and Walliams have both previously apologised for their use of blackface on the show, which began as a radio programme in 2000 before running as a TV series on the BBC between 2003 and 2007, launching their respective careers.

The said in a joint statement on Twitter in June 2020: “Once again we want to make it clear that it was wrong; we are very sorry.”

In the series, Walliams sported black make-up and a large afro wig to play the overweight black woman Desiree DeVere.

Lucas also used blackface to play Pastor Jesse King, who said he was “from the ghetto” and spoke in tongues to cure the sick.

In the wake of Black Lives Matter protests prompted by the killing of George Floyd, stars including Ant and Dec and Leigh Francis also apologised for portraying black people on TV.

Lucas previously said he has regrets about Little Britain, describing the comedy as “cruel”

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