Renee Zellweger has been criticized after being photographed on the set of her new movie allegedly wearing what is known as a "fat suit".
As reported by the Daily Mail, the 52-year-old actor was photographed in New Orleans while shooting the NBC crime series The Thing About Pam.
The upcoming limited series sees Zellweger star as Pam Hupp, an American woman who is currently serving a life sentence for the killing of Louis Gumpenberger.
However, despite the distressing subject of the upcoming show, it is newly released on-set photos that have resulted in Zellweger facing backlash.
Zellweger was pictured looking larger than usual, with the Metro reporting that she was wearing the "fat suit" underneath a pair of jeans and a puffer jacket. The publication also reports that the "fat suit" was photographed being transported on a hanger on set.
A "fat suit" is a type of full-body prosthetic worn by actors in order to appear a larger size than they actually are.
In an interview with the Metro, plus-size writer Sarah Alexander shared their thoughts on actors wearing "fat suits" for roles. They said: "A fat suit has always been a way of mocking fat people no matter who wears it, even if it is for an acting role.
"Actors that have previously worn them (Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Paulson) have admitted they regret their choice in wearing one and that it causes harm."
Alexander questioned why the role couldn't have just been given to a plus-size actor instead of Zellweger, before stating:
"For Zellweger to masquerade as a plus-size person is damaging, fatphobic and potentially triggering to other plus-size people. It seems like she has not considered the effects this will have on fat people."
And over on Twitter, several people agreed with Alexander's sentiments.
One person tweeted: "Wearing a fat suit for a role is not okay, why don’t we instead hire plus size actresses?"
Writing for The Sun, television presenter Vanessa Feltz declared: "This has got to stop — it is really insulting to everyone" - before comparing wearing a fat suit to wearing blackface or hiring an actor to place a different race.
"Fat suits are a pathetic insult to all voluptuous women. However big or small you are, you are exactly the same person on the inside and your heart, soul, and feelings are the same," Feltz added.