Forbes sparks FURY with opinion piece about Bridgerton's 'mixed-weight romance' between Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton: 'What does this even MEAN?'

Forbes sparks FURY with opinion piece about Bridgerton's 'mixed-weight romance' between Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton: 'What does this even MEAN?'

Forbes has been met with fierce criticism over a recent opinion piece about two Bridgerton characters being in a 'mixed-weight romance' - suggesting that the world is 'still not ready' to see two people of different body types dating on-screen. 

The piece, which was written by Virgie Tovar, a 'leading expert on weight bias', focused on the relationship between fictional characters Penelope Featherington, played by Nicola Coughlan, and Colin Bridgerton, played by Luke Newton. 

Tovar said that the on-screen relationship between the two characters 'defied romance plotline convention', seemingly because Nicola is 'larger' than Luke. 

But Tovar's use of the phrase 'mixed-weight romance' has sparked a bitter backlash from readers, with many questioning why the need to call attention to their size was ever necessary.  

Fans of the Shonda Rhimes series took to X, formerly known as Twitter, in their droves to slam the writer and the publication, furiously mocking the use of the 'mixed-weight' phrasing. 

Another person commented: 'Funny. “Mixed-weight” relationships have been on screen for a long time. It’s only a problem when the woman is heavy.' 

Others pointed to the fact that overweight men and skinny women have been at the center of TV shows for quite some time. 

Some examples users gave included Peter and Lois Griffin, Doug and Carrie Heffernan, Homer and Marge Simpson, Carl and Harriet Winslow, Fred and Wilma Flintstone, Bob and Abishola. 

Other users noted that the issue wasn't with the article itself but with the headline. 

But the Forbes article is not the only Bridgerton-related issue sparking fury among fans at the moment, with viewers recently taking aim at a shock plot twist in the finale of the latest season. 

Francesca Bridgerton, played by Hannah Dodd, marries John Stirling in season three and in the finale she meets his cousin Michaela, who is Michael in the books. The two couple up after John dies.

During the 30-second conversation, Francesca stutters over her words and can barely remember her own name after Michaela introduces herself.

The gender swap is a plot twist book fans weren't expecting and left many disappointed.

Showrunner Jess Brownell detailed the process behind the change and confirmed plans for more LGBTQIA+ representation in the show.

'When we started talking about queer representation on the show, we started with a discussion that this is a show about happily-ever-afters, and that we're not interested in queer trauma - that we really want to see queer joy,' Ms. Brownell told Variety.

'And if we're going to tell a queer story, we would like to find a way for there to be a happily ever after.

'You're going to see more of Michaela next season. I can't say in what capacity, just in terms of not tipping my hand of where we're going. But there is going to be a relationship between Michaela and Fran, as per the books,' she told Entertainment Weekly.