Woman Slams "Idiot" Who Fat-Shamed Her During a Run in Powerful Open Letter: ''I Am Not Ashamed of My Body''

26-year-old posted the missive on her Facebook page

By Alyssa Toomey Aug 12, 2015 6:24 PMTags
Lindsey SwiftLindsey Swift/Facebook

A 26-year-old woman is fighting back after being heckled by a fat-shamer during her run. 

Lindsey Swift, who hails from Barnsley, England, was training for a 10k last week when a man in a white van drove by and began to harass the star about her weight. According to the U.K.'s Metro, the man also shouted a sarcastic rendition of Mika's "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)" before driving off. Swift was running with her boyfriend, although he was further ahead and didn't hear what the heckler said. 

But instead of letting the cruel comments get her down, Swift decided to take matter into her own hands and penned an epic open letter on her Facebook page to the "idiot" bully. 

"An open letter to the idiot who thought it was ok to heckle me with fat jokes on my run yesterday," Swift's social media post began. "Your comment was a clear indication of both your incredibly witty repartee and a feat of observational comedy. I am indeed a big girl, and I am indeed beautiful. Thanks for noticing. I'm not sure who you were telling I was fat, you clearly have eyes, and the only other people present were me and my boyfriend." 

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An open letter to the idiot who thought it was ok to heckle me with fat jokes on my run yesterday,Your comment was a...

Posted by Lindsey Swift on Friday, 7 August 2015

She went on to say that "normally I don't get militant about these things" because "idiots are idiots" before explaining why she felt compelled to pen the post. 

"However, I can see why comments like these might put a person less confident than me off from running, and that is shameful. Everyone starts somewhere," she wrote. 

Swift then blasts the heckler with a few epic jabs. 

"Let me make one thing very clear, I am not ashamed of my body," she continued. "It has never stopped me from doing anything I want. My fat body has done things that you, hanging out of the window of your babe-magnet white van could only ever dream of. My fat body has been swimming in crystal clear Thai seas that you have probably only ever seen on TV. It has lived in countries you wouldn't dream of visiting and been a part of cultures you are too small minded to appreciate. My fat legs have carried me up mountains on more than one occasion. My fat brain speaks languages you probably don't see the point of learning, which is why you spend your time hanging out of van windows since you have nothing better to occupy it with." 

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She added that she recently made the decision to "get fit" and is already "a stone lighter" (14 pounds).

"It baffles me that anyone would try to discourage that kind of effort...If my fat arse running (quite slowly I might add, I was bloody shattered) offends you and spoils your journey, try driving with your eyes closed, into a lamp post," she wrote. 

Swift concluded by saying she feels sorry for the man and has forgiven him. 

"Here's hoping that anyone with a goal, fat or thin, isn't put off by this kind of thing...Engage your brain before opening your mouth."

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