“Hairspray homage with no fat girls?” Vogue’s viral tone-deaf tribute slammed on social media
Vogue recently released an “homage” to Hairspray which has gone viral on social media after users realized no plus-sized models were featured in the video.
Image by Cybernews
Vogue recently released an “homage” to Hairspray which has gone viral on social media after users realized no plus-sized models were featured in the video.
Hairspray, a musical about equality and inclusion, centers around a plus-sized woman who wishes to dance on television. She is faced with backlash and marginalized due to her weight.
However, she defies the odds and, along with her black friends who are fighting police brutality and segregation in 1960s Baltimore, sticks it to the man and lives her dreams.
The heartwarming story of overcoming adversity has been appropriated by the world famous fashion magazine, Vogue, who have “paid homage” to the musical by re-creating the famous song “You Can’t Stop the Beat.”
Vogue pay homage to ‘Hairspray’ with Gigi Hadid and Laverne Cox.
undefined Pop Base (@popbase.tv) March 11, 2025 at 11:08 PM
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However, netizens were quick to pick up on the fact there are no plus-sized women in Vogue’s video.
“Hairspray without fat people should get you shot in the knees, this is embarrassing,” said one person outraged by Vogue’s tone deaf take.
hairspray without fat people should get you shot in the knees this is embarrassing https://t.co/2KylaC5VDe
undefined loki (@harleyskooky) March 12, 2025
“Not a single person above 140 lbs in a HAIRSPRAY tribute is actually sinister”, said another X user.
not a single person above 140 lbs in a HAIRSPRAY tribute is actually sinister https://t.co/2UYEzKLOua pic.twitter.com/uqSoBllNUl
undefined secrets from a girl 🌞🪴 (@1ux1isbon) March 12, 2025
The fact that the main focus of Vogue’s video is slender model Gigi Hadid feels misguided and as if someone has missed the mark.
“Referencing hairspray without a fat girl is fundamentally missing the point of Hairspray btw,” said another user.
Referencing hairspray without a fat girl is fundamentally missing the point of Hairspray btw https://t.co/tdHZvfJPU1
undefined Atomic Annie (@_AtomicAnnie) March 11, 2025
One Bluesky user said “how are you gonna pay homage to a movie about plus-sized dancers without highlighting neither a plus-size person or a dancer?”
How are you gonna pay homage to a movie about plus sized dancers without highlighting neither a plus size person or a dancer?
undefined carliezucc.bsky.social (@carliezucc.bsky.social) March 12, 2025 at 1:13 PM
The reason for Vogue’s rather off rendition of Hairspray’s “You Can’t Stop the Beat” is not exactly clear.
An article written by Vogue, the media outlet says that this particular venture was “dreamed up” back in 2018 when Hadid collaborated with pop culture director Bardia Zeinali on a spring collection video inspired by Beetlejuice.
The Hairspray video is Zeinali’s latest video in collaboration with fashion editor Jorden Bickham.
However, the lack of plus-sized models makes Vogue’s rendition fall flatter than an up-do without hairspray and social media users everywhere seemed to notice.