“Dance Your Ass Off” Host Marissa Jaret Winokur Fired For Being “Too Fat”
Marissa Jaret Winokur — the full-figured Broadway star-turned-Dancing With The Stars contestant — was fired as host of Oxygen’s popular weight-loss show Dance Your Ass Off because she was “too fat,” a new report claims.
Marissa won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Tracy Turnbland in Broadway’s Hairspray, but she didn’t score any points with Dance bosses. The actress was replaced on the program earlier this month by the former Spice Girl Melanie Brown. At the time, series producers said Mel B was a “better fit” for the show’s audience and said “after talking to the audience that there was a portion … who loved her and a portion who didn’t connect with her.”
But Us Weekly has a different story; spywitnesses tell the tab Marissa was let go because she’s too curvy to host a weight loss program. (So Oxygen thinks contestants will have an easier time connecting with a skinny chick?)
“The producers were constantly on her to lose weight,” a tipster divulged. “She was asked to wear suits to cover her arms and legs. She was fired for being fat.”
Written by Castina on January 22nd, 2010 | Tagged as: Dance Your Ass Off!,Marissa Jaret Winokur
On July 6th 2010, Tiffany wrote:
I think Marissa was a perfect candidate to host the Dance your A Off show!! It shows you don’t have to be skinny minnie to look good! She was cute AND bubbly. Mel B is annoying, her accent and how she got the role in the first place is obnoxious! I liked the show MUCH better with Marissa on there. It just comes to show that Hollywood wants you to be perfectly lean or anorexic to be accepted. Maybe that is why teenage suicide is so much higher than it used to be. Or why eating disorders rise year after year. Our society sucks. I’m a thick girl and proud of it, and so is my man. Hollywood is Scandelous!!!!
On July 19th 2010, "Roz" wrote:
I did not miss an episode when Marissa was host. I agree with others who favored Marissa. Yes, she was curvy but that was not her total self image. She was poised yet with personality. Mel- B is dry and her personality is stiff, she is not at all relaxed she has no stage presence. That accent is so… annoying. BRING MARISSA BACK!!!
On July 28th 2010, Elizabeth wrote:
I agree, I loved Marissa. The show has no personality this season, either. I LOVED everyone last season, but this season they are all so cruel to one other. You can definetly see how where Bravo is poking it’s head in. The contestants SUPPORTED each other. Or at least on camera. The extra episodes seem to be filled with drama, which is annoying.
Has anyone else noticed how much weight all of the people lost the first week? That was just odd. Even Ruben and Shayla didn’t lose that much so quickly. I know it’s also a weight loss show, but people are getting perfect scores and going home because they were in the HOSPITAL (the only genuinely nice one, too).
I apologize from rambling
On August 9th 2010, rollo thomassi wrote:
Mel B is dry and has no television charisma aka personality. She rarely “clicks” with the contestants or the “jooges.” The only thing she has going for her is her figure and the clothing. The thing was Marissa made the show. Her personality and appearance made you want to watch. Trading Marissa for Mel B. was a failed decision. Hey folks at DYAO, I could do a better job!!!