Riverdale Star Charles Melton Apologizes For Fat-Shaming
By Dave Basner
June 20, 2018
Fans of Charles Melton, who plays "Reggie Mantle" on Riverdale, are upset after old tweets he allegedly wrote surfaced. News of the four offensive posts from 2012 went viral because of how they fat-shame.
The tweets said things like "Fat chicks need to understand that wearing yoga pants is a privilege, not a right," and "I find it hilarious when fat people say they need to start eating right. When they have already mastered the art of chewing and swallowing."
They were posted two years before Charles's first acting role, a gig on Glee, and five years before he took over the part of "Reggie" from Ross Butler on season two of Riverdale. After they were discovered, the actor turned his Twitter to private but the screenshots of the tweets survived.
These fat shaming tweets from Charles Melton make me sick pic.twitter.com/nxabu4Xv38
— Choni memes (@choniweed) June 17, 2018
Fans were pretty upset:
CHARLES MELTON DOESNT KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOURE AND YOUR BUT HES TELLING WOMEN TO STOP BEING FAT
— lys (@dreyfussed) June 17, 2018
Can't believe I used to support Charles Melton .. 💔💔💔
— Sarah (@the_darkedge) June 18, 2018
Charles's initial reaction of making his Twitter private didn't help matters:
Charles Melton fat shaming woman then putting his account private because of the backlash is petty af. pic.twitter.com/AgwLHf1TK1
— w!tch b!tch (@maddiegbert) June 19, 2018
He has since issued an apology that reads,
"I'm truly sorry for making inconsiderate comments several years ago and apologize to anyone I hurt. What I posted and said was immature, offensive and inappropriate. I am ashamed of how I acted and there is no excuse for that behavior. I’m striving to do better and will use this experience to grow, helping others to understand how these types of statements are completely unacceptable."
His Twitter account is still set to private.
Photo Credit: Getty