To the Girl at the Movies Last Night Who Called Jennifer Lawrence Fat...

Yes, I heard you. So did the three preteens in front of you who already struggle with their appearance. But maybe that was the point of your outburst. Maybe you wanted some attention taken away from the woman onscreen, who is far more than just her appearance.

Maybe you were jealous. She has fame and fortune, a blossoming career, a talent for portraying a variety of character while still remaining true to herself and her fans, and the attention of the man sitting beside you. When he said she was pretty, it was almost as if you couldn't believe he could find another woman attractive other than you. Your scoff that echoed through a particularly quiet part of the movie could have gone unnoticed until you loudly voiced how he couldn't possibly really think she was pretty, because she is fat. Thankfully, the gentleman with you responded with the most logical and succinct assessment of your statement when he said you were either blind or crazy if you think Jennifer Lawrence is fat. The music picked up and your conversation was lost to most of the theater again, but I was close enough to hear that last jab: "Ugh, whatever. She's at least chunky."

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I spent the remainder of the movie struggling to contain my reeling mind. I couldn't grasp the fact that you saw this young, vibrant woman as anything other than the beauty that she is. The fact that you so easily fat-shamed her saddened me. Was it the fact that you will never meet her that let the words fall so easily from your lips? Or do you just as easily shame others that you see everyday? How do women find it so easy to judge and say hurtful things about other woman? What needs to happen to make this behavior stop?

I don't have the answers. I don't know how to make things better, and sadly, I have a hard time imagining a world where these things don't happen. But I'm trying. Others are trying. Maybe someday you'll pick up the cause as well. So yes, I heard you. Your words created an awareness in me to be mindful of my own words and help others around me be mindful of theirs. You've started a small revolution with your hurtful words, which is exactly what Katniss Everdeen would want.