Former Women’s Champion, Mickie James has brushed off suggestions that she is uncomfortable with the current ‘Piggie James’ storyline in an interview with NorthJersey.com. On whether she was hesitant to do the storyline, in which she has been the subject of fat jokes at the hands of Michelle McCool and Layla, she says:
Well, no, because I don’t think I’m heavy, for one. I’m only 130, 135 pounds. But at the same time, no, because it’s entertainment. Is it my favorite? I don’t really know. I guess we’ll have to see where it goes. It depends on the payoff. We’re telling stories and we’re building emotional things where people can actually connect with it. And I think that a lot of women in general, society has put on this thing where every female should look like Paris Hilton who is 6-foot something, and 100 pounds. That’s not how America is and that’s not how the real women in the world look.
Mickie’s comments are interesting but I can’t help but feel they’re the abridged, politically correct answer so as not to get her into trouble with management. It’s clear to those that follow wrestling and understand how it works that this storyline isn’t just WWE wanting to tackle a sensitive issue in order to shed light on it, but rather a personal jibe — or as we’ve called it, scripted bullying — towards Mickie. WWE television is not the same as other scripted dramas where actors play characters completely different to the themselves; these actors take on storylines such as alcoholism, drug abuse etc. in roles that have no bearing on their personal lives. Mickie’s situation is different and I’m sorry, I just can’t buy the whole “we’re telling stories to tackle social issues~” excuse that other scripted shows can get away with. Perhaps I’m wrong, but I find it hard to believe that Mickie doesn’t feel uneasy about the storyline or the implications of it. In fact, I think you’d be hard pressed to find a woman that could step into Mickie’s shoes and not feel uneasy about it. That’s just my two cents.
To read the rest of the interview click here, other highlights include Mickie discussing her musical career.
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14 Comments
poor mickie,she may think she’s not fat but apparently everyone in WWE thinks she is
I read that many people inside WWE think that mickie will part ways with the company once her contract expires so she can focus totally on her music career and that this ‘piggy james’ angle is kinda like a send off for mickie,in other words,she won’t win the womens title from michelle
Sounds like management had a talk with her. Like I said before, the fat jokes are technically about the ‘WWE character’ Mickie James, so there isn’t anything she can do. I still think she’s mad. But I also think there’s less friction than when that video skit first aired. They did hook up her Twitter page to reach out to fans and such. And Mickie will likely get one last title run. Ultimately she’ll be leaving for her music once her contract is up anyway. Maybe Mickie’s attempting to play extra kiss-up in hopes of getting a less embarrassing sendoff than Lita, Vickie, and others.
I agree that I don’t buy it completely. WWE or wrestling in general is not exactly a forum for social commentary of a serious type. That they try to poke fun at/reference pop culture and fail repeatedly is enough evidence of that.
of course mickies not offended! it’s just a storyline and she knows it! she’s a real profesional, although if wwe let her go i hope she leaves with some dignity!
while i dont completely buy it i do believe mickie for the most part. i am sure at first she was offended but i genuinely believe that she doesnt think she is fat, which of course, she isnt. i also dont think that management thinks shes fat either. and i dont think shes on her way out the door quite yet. of course i could be completely wrong.
Hopefully this storyline will blow over soon, there’s only so many fat jokes they can use.
“Hopefully this storyline will blow over soon, there’s only so many fat jokes they can use.”
You would think so. But we’re talking about a company that still thinks outdated jokes are funny & relevant. Example……
Sept 13: Kanye/Taylor @ VMAs
Sept 14: internet/mainstream media parodies Kanye
Sept 21: Kanye jokes no longer funny
Dec 14: WWE parodies Kanye
“That’s not how America is and that’s not how the real women in the world look.”
I love you, Mickie, but what? People who defend their bodies by dissing others is just hypocritical. One of my best friends is naturally very skinny and she has a healthy diet, but she gets constant rumors attacking her about having an eating disorder. She’s no less of a woman just because she’s like that naturally. People have different body types, and she’s no different. She was born with ovaries, so how is she not a “real” woman?
Dan, it’s that old double standard – it’s not ok to make fun of a woman for being overweight, but it’s perfectly ok to mock them for being too thin.
In comparison to this interveiw and Mickies twitter comments, I’m sure Mickie has had management on her case.
Like spiffy said, Maybe Mickie is kinda easing down, not showing her true emotions, so that WWE dont make what could be, her final months with WWE a living hell!
Mickie isn’t even fat, nor is she over weight, for exampl look at kong! I know she is in TNA and knockouts are treated much better but she is not insulted about her weight because thats her character
and thats how it should be!
I just hope that Mickie rises above this nonsense and it doesn’t cause her to have a melt down…
“society has put on this thing where every female should look like Paris Hilton who is 6-foot something, and 100 pounds”
and the storyline you’re involved with and so happy to be telling is backing that ideology up 100%.
just because she doesn’t think she’s “heavy”, it’s okay to take the piss out of every non-thin gal out there? ugh. i think thickie james (as in stupid) is more appropriate.
Spiffy – that timeline = priceless. Made me laugh. :-)
I met Mickie at the WM Art Auction last year in Houston (best WWE event of the year by the way if you want to meet some of the stars…had long chats with the Bellas, Miz, Jeff Hardy, Beth (heart), Eve, Santino, the King, Vickie, Natalya, Linda McMahon, and others)….anyway, Mickie was lovely and we all know she isn’t overweight…I can’t believe this story has generated so much discussion from fans.
I do think her ring outfits are not very flattering.
I don’t know why everyone is pissed off at this storyline. I mean come on piggy “mickie” james has gain some weight. she can’t even wear her ring gear anymore. the wwe is trying to help her. I don’t think piggy will? make in the music world, but she can be a poster child for jenny craig. she just needs to lose….30/40 pounds that all.
Looks like the Office LEANED on someone. Mickie on Twitter after the Jenny Craig shots, to Maria……”thanks for standing by me thru all this”…….doesnt sound like telling a story.
Mickie has been in the business for 11 years, she knows how to survive.
See what the payoff is ? A 5th title run makes the storyline OK ?
(A terrible storyline for a PG audience full of young girls…….the PG audience WWE brags about)
Interesting comments about the album, ………”because obviously I want to release the single in February and the album in March.”
Album in March…………..take advantage of all the Wrestlemania publicity.
One of the stories going around is that her heat isnt her weight, its Nashville.
Management feels she’s using WWE to “get her name out there”.
Smart PR by her music people, dont think Vince will like it, he didnt become a billionaire by giving stuff away free.
Mickie’s Nashville “team” is free of any ties to WWE (more heat…………”outside the company”) so Vince can’t profit off her.
With talent cuts coming in January, if they turn Beth face and put the belt on her, Maria is going to be high profile on tv til Apprentice is over, wonder where Mickie fits………………write her off tv and bury her or F.E.
Harder to sell albums as a “Starving Artist” than as a “WWE Diva”. She’s doing a lot of media though, same thing that happened before the title change at NOC.
And to all…………..a Good Night……….Ho-Ho-Ho ! : )