Last night, the premiere of Khloé Kardashian’s reality fitness show, Revenge Body, hit the airwaves, and it’s safe to say that it’s an incredibly shallow and disheartening addition to the weight-loss genre. And that’s quite a statement.
Meet Josh
We kick things off with a young man named Josh, who is charming and exudes warmth—instantly likable. In his first scene, he walks into his home carrying takeout and snacks, reinforcing the stereotype that overweight individuals are perpetually eating. He shares that he hails from a small town, where his weight, his braces, and his sexuality made food a source of comfort. Recently, Josh’s boyfriend confessed that he no longer found him attractive. “I knew I had gained weight, but I didn’t realize it was that significant,” he admits through tears. In that moment, you can almost hear decent people everywhere screaming, “YOU ARE WORTHY, JOSH. GET OUT OF THIS SHOW AND FIND SOMEONE WHO APPRECIATES YOU!”
It’s hard not to picture the producers encouraging him to indulge in takeout while recounting his breakup story—a tactic that feels intentional and disheartening. As Josh gazes at himself in the mirror, shirtless and emotional, I want to knock on Khloé’s door and yell, “Haven’t you made enough money already?” while tossing donuts into her lavish home.
“I see a fat, lonely person,” Josh says. NO! That’s not true at all. You lit up the screen as soon as you appeared. Your humor shines through; everyone would want to be friends with you!
When Khloé asks, “Why are you here today?” Josh responds, “I’m in a transitional phase. My boyfriend Kyle broke up with me, and I want him back.” Wait, what? Kyle is not your best friend, Josh—he’s a jerk. “Why did he break up with you?” Khloé inquires, digging deeper into Josh’s pain. “He told me he wasn’t attracted to me anymore,” he reveals, displaying photos of Kyle, who is just as heavy as he is. Seriously, Kyle?
When Khloé prompts, “Who do you want to get revenge on?” it’s obvious: Kyle, obviously. “Hopefully, Kyle will see the effort I put in and think, ‘Wow, this person did this for me,’” Josh says. At this point, we’re all wishing Khloé would say something empowering like, “Josh, you’re incredible, and if you’re going to do this, do it for yourself. Forget Kyle.” But instead, she shares a story about Kim’s insecurities after breakups, implying that if it happened to Kim, it could happen to anyone.
Josh then expresses his desire to transform from a “bear” to a “muscle cub”—a term for a big, hairy guy who gains muscle. Khloé promises to connect him with top nutritionists and trainers, exclaiming, “I can’t wait to see my muscle cub!”
Emily’s Journey
In summary, the show never delves into anything meaningful. It portrays Josh as a tragic figure, and Khloé offers little more than superficial encouragement, culminating in a shallow celebration of physical transformation.
Next, we meet another participant named Emily, who identifies as the “designated ugly fat friend.” Surrounded by a group of judgmental women, she receives harsh fashion advice that only serves to tear her down. I find myself wishing I could rescue Emily from this cruel circle and take her to a cozy space where we could binge-watch our favorite shows.
Emily eventually steps into what could be called the “judgment zone,” where her appearance is criticized relentlessly. “I think it’s too tight around your stomach,” one woman remarks. “You don’t really have a shape,” another chimes in. What in the world? Do women genuinely speak to one another this way? Emily doesn’t need a makeover; she needs better friends.
Later, at the club with her unkind friends, Emily hesitates to dance, prompting judgmental comments from the group. “Oh my god, just get up!” one of them says, clearly taken aback by her sitting down.
Skipping ahead to Emily’s meeting with Khloé, I hope for better advice. However, Emily gushes about how stunning Khloé is, just like Josh did. It’s starting to feel like a requirement. When Emily shares her struggles with self-image, Khloé responds with a dismissive, “I can fix your face,” which is mind-boggling.
As the show progresses, Josh and Emily both manage to lose weight—30 pounds for Josh and 27 for Emily—over twelve weeks. There’s a dramatic reveal and a confrontation with Emily’s former friend, who doesn’t even remember her unkindness. Josh realizes that his journey was motivated by Kyle’s departure, but ultimately, this show is all about surface appearances and lacks any real substance.
Khloé Kardashian’s own history with body image is evident, and while it’s unfortunate, she’s capitalizing on her insecurities and peddling this as empowerment to her audience.
Conclusion
In summary, Revenge Body fails to provide meaningful insights into self-worth and personal growth, instead focusing entirely on external changes. If you’re looking for true empowerment, check out resources like Crisis Resource Hub for more substantial support, or explore fertility supplements and information on baby formula at Baby Formula Authority.