Kat Dennings Says A Casting Director Called Her Fat At 12 Years Old

11 hours ago 1

This post contains discussion of body image issues.

You know Kat Dennings from plenty of things. It's possible you're even watching her on the new ABC show Shifting Gears.

Kat Dennings in a casual setting stands in a kitchen, wearing a graphic T-shirt with a retro design, beside a bowl of fruit on a counter

Of course, Hollywood has been pretty cruel to child actors across its existence — and in a new interview with People, Kat got real about how she was body-shamed at a young age by a casting director.

Kat Dennings in a black, off-shoulder dress poses confidently on the red carpet

"The time that I was auditioning and starting to act, it was a very different environment than it is now," she said. "There was not a lot of inclusivity at all. It was very harsh. There was a lot of extremely negative feedback and people would not hold back."

Bob Saget and Kat Dennings sit together smiling. The man wears glasses, a black shirt, and jeans. The woman has long hair and a camouflage tank top

Kat went on to specify how casting directors in particular could be "very cruel" when talking to children: "It was pretty crazy thinking about it. I'm like, 'How can anyone say that about a little kid? This is insane.'"

Kat Dennings posing at an event, wearing a stylish, low-cut black dress with hair in a sleek updo

"For example, I was 12. I'd go into an audition and I'd do it, and my manager would call me and I'd be like, 'How'd it go?' And they'd be like, 'Well, they thought you weren't pretty enough and you're fat.'"

Kat Dennings in a black strapless, tiered tulle dress and heels on a red carpet in front of a movie poster

Kat went on to say that such comments ultimately didn't "break my spirit." "Props to my parents, because they were like, 'They're idiots. Don't listen to them.' And I was like, 'They're idiots, I'm not.'"

Kat Dennings in a one-shoulder gown with subtle patterns and bold earring, attending a formal event. Their hair is styled back, and makeup is elegantly done

Kat also claimed that today's entertainment industry is "much softer [and] kinder" than the "completely insane" environment she faced as a child actor.

Kat Dennings with long hair in a room with posters on the wall, wearing a casual t-shirt

"There's body positivity, there's inclusivity, there's representation, and there was none of that before. It was really gross."

Kat Dennings in elegant black dress at a red carpet event poses confidently with hand on hip, hair styled in a sleek high ponytail

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