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"The Whale" Won Best Makeup At The Oscars, And People Are Not Happy About It

Darren Aronofsky's award-winning film was plenty controversial before last night's win, and people still aren't happy about it.

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If you watched the Oscars last night, you know that Darren Aronofsky's latest film, The Whale, took home a few awards.

A closeup of Brendan Fraser sitting in a chair in a scene from The Whale

Brendan Fraser took home the Best Actor award for his performance in the film.

Brendan holds his Oscar as he gives his acceptance speech

Judy Chin, Adrien Morot, and Annamarie Bradley also took home Best Makeup for their work on the film.

From left to right: Judy, Adrien, and Annamarie pose with their Oscars backstage
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If you've followed the last few months of discourse, many view The Whale as a film that perpetuates harmful anti-fat stereotypes and perspectives — and that includes the prosthetics and fat suit that Brendan had to wear.

A closeup of Brendan in prosthetics and a fat suit in a scene from the film

Of course, the film's Best Makeup win essentially represented a celebration of the prosthetics and fat suit, which people don't seem to be happy about. Here are some of the reactions across social media:

The makeup team giving their acceptance speech

LMAO NOT THE WHALE WINNING BEST MAKEUP GETTING PRAISED FOR MAKING A MOCKERY OF FATNESS AND NOT HIRING A FAT PERSON literally just an award for not hiring fat people my god #Oscars

@hutchleah / Via Twitter: @hutchleah

i cannot articulate how gross the whale winning any awards is let alone best makeup and best actor… #Oscars

@llobotomized / Via Twitter: @llobotomized

What in the Ozempic propaganda is The Whale getting best makeup for a fat-suit at the Oscars🤦🏻‍♀️

@theshirarose / Via Twitter: @theshirarose

the whale won best makeup over wakanda forever for a FAT SUIT? the oscars have to pay for their sins

@chalametsfilm / Fox / Via Twitter: @chalametsfilm

Jeez between Ozempic and rewarding the makeup team for The Whale, the Oscars are really obsessed with fatphobia tonight, huh?

@edockterman / Via Twitter: @edockterman

the oscar for best makeup going to the construction of a fat suit on the whale is blatantly disrespectful. and to blast this specific image of a fake fat body on display behind the award is inconceivable

@izzivw / ABC / Via Twitter: @izzivw

I mean, I know the Oscars are tone-deaf at the best of times, but giving The Whale an Oscar for makeup??? I mean, do you not see the huge fucking issue here???

@grantsales / Via Twitter: @grantsales

So disappointing that The Whale won the Oscar for best hair and makeup. Fat suits are harmful - they are not your opportunity to win awards. Our identity is not your costume. Cast fat actors to play fat characters. #TheWhale #fatphobia #fatsuit #Oscars

@KBHeylen / Via Twitter: @KBHeylen

i expected the whale to win for makeup, but that doesn’t make me any less angry. ah yes, let’s put a man in a fat suit, how revolutionary! news flash: it’s not impressive to make someone look fat. we’re not a costume. give me an oscar for being fat naturally, like damn

@kayemjoy / Via Twitter: @kayemjoy
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