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💡 TLDR
Leanne Morgan’s new Netflix sitcom is giving major diet culture flashbacks with non-stop jokes about laxatives and weight loss. It’s basically an old-school roast that uses body image humor as a coping mechanism, which is definitely sparking some wild conversations!
Living for this energy rn—but maybe not the kind we expected. Comedian Leanne Morgan finally brought her dream scripted project to life with her new Netflix sitcom, Leanne, but viewers are noticing something pretty intense about the writing. While the show is inspired by her stand-up and follows a woman navigating life after her husband leaves her, the humor leans heavily into some very sensitive territory regarding weight and physical appearance.
Humor As A Coping Mechanism
Morgan has been super open about why the dialogue goes where it does, explaining that her character uses comedy to survive the chaos of a split marriage. She basically told Netflix’s Tudum that sometimes you just have to laugh to keep from crying. However, that laughter often comes at the expense of body positivity. The script is packed with references to laxatives, Weight Watchers, and even Dexatrim, creating a vibe that feels more like an old-school roast than a modern sitcom.
💫 sometimes you just have to laugh to keep from crying.
Constant Diet Culture References
The jokes go way beyond surface-level comments, getting uncomfortably specific about body image. We see everything from Leanne joking about taking a “buttload” of Dexatrim before pregnancy to her admitting she’s actually ashamed of her body. There’s also this heavy layer of nostalgia; Leanne even mentions starring in a commercial back when eating disorders “weren’t frowned on like they are now.” It creates this wild tension between her looking back fondly on an older era and the reality of how these jokes land today.
While Morgan found the transition from stand-up to scripted acting to be incredibly rewarding, the show’s reliance on these tropes is definitely sparking conversation. Whether it’s comparing herself to a pelican or worrying about hiding her stomach at dinner, the weight jokes are a constant thread throughout the season. It’s giving major diet culture flashbacks, which feels especially jarring given how much we’ve moved toward body neutrality lately.
Do you think sitcoms should move away from weight-based humor entirely?
❓ People Also Ask
What is Leanne Morgan's new Netflix sitcom about?
Leanne Morgan's new Netflix sitcom, titled Leanne, follows a woman navigating the complexities of life after her husband leaves her. The scripted project is inspired by her popular stand-up comedy and serves as a transition from performing stand-up to acting. While the show captures the energy of her comedic style, it focuses heavily on the character using humor as a way to cope with the personal chaos caused by a split marriage.
Why does Leanne Morgan use body image jokes in her writing?
Leanne Morgan uses humor centered on physical appearance and weight as a coping mechanism for her character's life struggles. She explained that her character relies on comedy to survive the emotional difficulty of navigating a divorce. By using laughter to avoid crying, the dialogue incorporates frequent references to diet culture topics like Weight Watchers, laxatives, and Dexatrim to reflect how the character processes her internal chaos through comedic relief.
How does the humor in Leanne reflect older eras of diet culture?
The humor in the show reflects older eras by referencing specific weight-loss products and attitudes that were more common in previous decades. For example, Morgan includes jokes about taking Dexatrim during pregnancy and mentions a time when eating disorders were not viewed with the same social stigma they face today. This creates a sense of nostalgia that contrasts sharply with modern movements toward body neutrality and contemporary views on physical appearance.
What specific weight-related tropes appear in the sitcom Leanne?
The sitcom features several constant threads regarding weight, including jokes about hiding one's stomach during dinner or comparing oneself to a pelican. The script includes uncomfortably specific references to diet culture staples such as Weight Watchers and various weight-loss supplements. These tropes create an atmosphere that feels more like an old-school roast than a modern sitcom, frequently touching on themes of body shame and the intense pressure of maintaining a certain physical appearance.
💬 What do you think? Let us know in the comments! 👇
📰 Source: Us Weekly