Robbie and Sarah Tripp (Picture: tripp/Instagram)

I’ve claimed before that I don’t choose what to write about by seeing what other people are saying ‘aw’ to, and then trashing it.

Honestly, I don’t.

But often I see words like ‘adorable’ and ‘amazing’ being banded about and sit at my desk trying to wonder why those words are being so liberally applied to someone who’s doing something which, as far as I can see, is at best average and at worst, kind of shitty.

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Rarely have I felt that sentiment more strongly than when the internet let out a collective ‘Ahh’ noise towards Robbie Tripp, the man who wrote an open love letter to his ‘curvy’ wife.




Sarah Tripp, the woman in question, is gorgeous. Totally, completely stunning. She had a killer bod and a great face and she’s basically winning at life.

So why does her husband seem to think that it’s remarkable (by which I mean worthy of remark) that he find her attractive?

Because she’s not a size two.

ICYMI, Robbie uploaded this picture to Instagram.

In the caption Robbie hits on some sensible points.

He’s aware that he (like all of us) has been brainwashed into thinking that one kind of body is worthy of adoration, and that finding fuller figured women attractive is sometimes a source of bullying.

But other than that, this post is a hot mess.

It drips with heroism. ‘I am not like other men’ it implies. ‘Other men want to sleep with thin beautiful women. But I am better than that. I want to sleep with a slightly less thin beautiful woman. And that is why you should all praise me.’

If I were Sarah, I’d be feeling pretty pissed off right now.

That’s her body he’s talking about. He’s made her figure into his narrative. He’s literally using her body to make a point about what a good, enlightened guy he is.

‘Thick thighs, big booty, cute little side roll etc’ might be things that Robbie finds cute, but I guarantee you they’re things that his wife has had to work every day of her damn life to be comfortable with.

Not hating side rolls does not mean you should be beatified. (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

The world around Sarah will have taught her that her body is wrong. That she takes up too much space. That she should shrink to fit a mould. Fighting those pressures takes strength and emotional energy. But it’s not that fight which people are celebrating. It’s her husband.

Robbie claims he was teased for liking thicker girls growing up, but clearly has no idea what it’s like to actually be a thicker girl. The teasing there is a whole lot worse than your friends banding the word ‘chubby chaser’ around.

Perhaps I’m so defensive of Sarah Tripp because I see parallels with my own relationship.



Physically we’re extremely similar to Robbie and Sarah.

My husband is thin. I am not.

My husband being thinner than me at our wedding (Picture: Emily Bryant)

His attraction to me does not make him a better person. He doesn’t fancy me because he’s woke, or because he’s taking a stand against societal beauty norms. He fancies me because I have a cracking (if slightly fuller) bod, and a nice face, and I’m really good in bed.

If he were to hold up his attraction to me as a sign that he’s sticking it to The Man, I would be incredibly hurt.

Our reaction to this story tells you everything you need to know about how we treat fuller figured women. ‘You’re so LUCKY’ we’re saying. ‘What an amazing husband!’

There is literally nothing amazing about fancying the person you’re in a relationship with.

No woman wants her husband to want her in spite of her body.

No woman should be made to feel grateful or fortunate to marry someone who likes the way she looks.

I have no doubt that the intention here is good, but the truth is, while Robbie’s Instagram post ostensibly celebrates what his wife looks like, the subtext is this:

‘Other men wouldn’t fancy my wife like I do. Other men wouldn’t find her body shape attractive. I am more enlightened because I’m attracted to her.’

So yes, Robbie, your wife is stunning.

But you don’t get kudos for loving her and finding her attractive. You’re not getting a badge or a special hat for celebrating her body.


The reward that Robbie gets for fancying his gorgeous wife is getting to go to bed with her every night and wake up with her every morning. If what he wrote in that Instagram caption is really true, then that should be enough.

MORE: Man writes post about his ‘curvy wife’ to highlight the definition of beauty

MORE: Instagram has lifted its ban on #curvy

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