Xixi Lim Doesn’t Think She Was Fat-Shamed In Ah Girls Go Army; Says What’s Hurtful Are Nasty Comments From Netizens

Jack Neo’s new movie Ah Girls Go Army (AGGA) has been accused by netizens of fat-shaming.

In the movie, actress Priscilla Lim — better known as Xixi Lim — plays recruit Yuan Yuan Yuan. In Chinese, 'Yuan' can mean 'round'. Repeat that three times and you will understand why people are criticising the filmmaker for making fat jokes at the expense of the plus-sized Xixi.

A Straits Times review also lambasts the film for making “fun of people who are already made fun of in society”, including “overweight women”.

8days.sg caught up with the 33-year-old star after AGGA’s press conference on Friday to ask what she thinks of the controversy.

Xixi as Yuan Yuan Yuan

8 DAYS: Ah Girls Go Army is opening in cinemas in just a couple of days. How do you feel about that?

XIXI LIM: There’s definitely a level of stress to it… I believe that everyone is aware of the comments about the movie — there are positive and negative remarks and it’s affected our confidence.

Do you always read comments about you online?

I usually check comments about myself because I want to know what they think of my performance and my roles. Recently, I saw a report saying that my character’s name, Yuan Yuan Yuan, gave them the impression that I was being fat-shamed.

I feel that it all depends on how you look at it. My character’s name was meant to be funny but some people think that it’s making fun of my body. When I saw that, I thought to myself: even if my character wasn’t called Yuan Yuan Yuan, people would still make fun of or comment on my body. I don’t see an issue with the name itself and I do think that it’s one that you can remember easily.

What went through your mind when you read the script and saw the character's name?

The first thought I had when I read the script was that it would give plus-sized women more confidence. My character wasn’t written as a stereotypical fat girl. Yuan Yuan Yuan is a very bubbly and helpful person who has great stamina. She’s never the last when it comes to physical activities, so it shows that plus-sized women can do more than you think we can. Sometimes, we even do it better than regular people!

I decided to accept the role when [Jack Neo] offered me the opportunity because I saw a glimmer of hope in this aspect. I hope that people know that plus-sized women can be physically active too.

You can’t please everyone. There will be some people who will always think on the negative side but if you give the movie a chance, you’ll come to realise that Yuan Yuan Yuan’s character isn’t what you think it is.

Xixi hopes to get rid of stereotyping in the future

Do you reject roles that make fun of plus-sized people?

I don’t think anyone has ever cast me in order to make fun of my size. A lot of the characters that I play can be portrayed by other women, but there’s an added sense of comedy because I’m the one doing it.

Of course, there’s a certain level of stereotyping — that I’m always the comedic or cute character — but I hope that we can be like Hollywood where I would be able to act as a spy, thief or in an action movie in general. I hope that Singapore [filmmakers] can one day let me act in a different kind of role.

What do you have in mind?

I’ve always wanted to act in a spy movie. (Laughs) And I would also want to have a handsome co-star! (Chuckles) It would be best if we could play a couple. We would break the stereotype that plus-sized girls can’t be with handsome men.

Rebel Wilson embarked on a ‘Year of Health’ in 2020 and lost over 30kg. How did you feel when you read about her journey?

I was very touched by what she did. Many people have asked me if I’ve ever considered losing weight and my answer is always the same: I’ve always been doing so and it’s just that people don’t realise it! (laughs)

I’ve always been trying hard to lose weight, but most importantly, I want to be healthy. In recent years, I’ve been paying more attention to what I eat and I’ve also been working out. You may not realise that I’ve lost weight when you see me on screen, but my stamina has definitely improved.

My health checks have all come back great but I also know that my body shape could be a ticking time bomb. I could be okay today, but something could happen tomorrow. I’m trying to make changes to what I eat and how I exercise.

People may think that I’ve built my career around being plus-sized and that the message I want to bring across is that it’s okay to be plus-sized. But in fact, my message is that you must know how to love yourself while you’re working towards the goal that you want, be it losing weight or becoming prettier. If you don’t love yourself, you won’t be able to convince anyone else to love you either.

Have you ever been approached by weight-loss centres?

In the past few months, I’ve been going to a place where they use holistic methods such as gua sha to help you lose weight. I wouldn’t want to eat pills [to lose weight], but I’m totally open to something like personal training or fitness in general. I’m very willing to try anything, even aerial yoga, if their equipment can withstand my weight! (Chuckles)

She has big plans for herself and her community

What’s your secret to staying positive?

Even till today, people ask me how I’m always so happy and never seem to get upset. I’m human too; I bleed when I fall and I definitely feel hurt when people say things about my acting, the characters that I play or my body.

There’s no way for me to stop them because I believe in the freedom of speech. You just need to accept it and not take it so seriously. Everyone is entitled to their point of view and what they’re saying might not be wrong either.

As a public figure, you have to accept that people will always talk about how you look —nobody is perfect regardless of how good-looking or flawless they may seem. There will always be people who talk badly about how you look, your performance, or even your attitude. I feel that it’s most important to be able to look yourself in the eye and be happy with where you are.

Would you say you don't care about what people say about you anymore?

It took a very long time for me to get to this stage. I used to cry every day, and even till today, I sometimes ask myself when I would be convinced that I’ve done something to make plus-sized women feel more accepted. I wonder who I’m working so hard for but at the end of the day, I remind myself that I’m doing it for myself and my community.

I still feel extremely hurt when I see very nasty comments. Recently, I saw someone say ‘What size are Xixi’s pants? If she gives them to me, I think I can use them as a curtain or quilt.’ I see such comments quite frequently. Sometimes, I have to give it to them for being so creative. (Laughs) But honestly, I’ve reached a point where I really don’t care what people say.

Ah Girls Go Army opens in cinemas on Feb 1.

Photos: Xixi Lim/Facebook, mm2 Entertainment