Maria Kang's Facebook Comments About Obesity Called 'Hate Speech,' Page Blocked
Maria Kang had her Facebook account shutdown after comments she made regarding obese women were deemed to constitute hate speech.
Kang made the comments after learning of a new campaign featuring plus-sized women posing in lingerie. When Kang took to Facebook to express her opinions about the photos she was temporarily banned from Facebook after her comments went viral.
"Why should overweight women be proud of their bodies … The popular and unrelenting support received to those who are borderline obese (not just 30 to 40 lbs. overweight) frustrates me as a fitness advocate who intimately understands how poor health negatively effects a family, a community and a nation," Kang wrote on her Facebook page.
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According to Kang, her post was taken down within three hours of it going viral and her account was shut down after learning that her words constituted "hate speech."
Kang originally drew criticism in October after she posted a photo of herself showing off her toned physique while surrounded by her three children. The caption of the photo read, "What's your excuse?" Many viewers took offense to the message, saying it was an attack on overweight people.
Kang described herself as a busy working mom who had previously won fitness and beauty competitions. Kang also revealed that she once suffered from an eating disorder, but that she is "passionate about my faith, my family and my fitness."
Kang's Facebook was restored shortly after being taken down with a spokesperson from Facebook explaining that after another user's complaint he account was mistakenly blocked.
"A user reported content on her page, and it was mistakenly removed by Facebook. When we realized the error we corrected it immediately, and restored full access to Ms. Kang. We apologize for the inconvenience," Facebook said in a statement.
