‘Hire a plus-sized actress’: Impeachment: American Crime Story sparks backlash as Sarah Paulson wears ‘fat suit’ as Linda Tripp

American Crime Story’s upcoming new chapter Impeachment has sparked outrage after Sarah Paulson was spotted wearing what appeared to be a fat suit as she filmed scenes.

Ryan Murphy’s limited series about the Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky sex scandal will see Paulson portray Linda Tripp, a former White House and Pentagon employee who was a key figure in the impeachment.

Pictures from the set of the FX production emerged earlier this week, with the actress dressed in a fat suit with a brown power suit over the top. She also sported long blonde hair and glasses.

It didn’t take long for the photos to go viral on social media, with many furious fans hitting out at bosses for not casting a bigger actress to play the role.

‘Y’all know I love Sarah Paulson. She’s my FAVORITE. But seeing her in a fat suit as Linda Tripp for the new American Crime Story makes me uncomfortable,’ blasted one.

‘Why can’t they just hire a plus size actress? It’s 2021 hire fat actors who are under hired instead of thin ones in fat suits.’

Echoing a similar sentiment, another raged: ‘This is so incredibly harmful and irritating. Linda Tripp was a pear-shaped, probably size 12 woman. The fact that they took the very skinny Sarah Paulson, added prosthetics to the face and put her in a “fat suit” is so damaging.’

‘I love Sarah Paulson but this isn’t ok,’ a third added. ‘When will the film/tv industry learn that fat suits aren’t okay and that it’s very possible to just hire an actor who already has the body type you’re looking for.’

The third season of American Crime Story is based on Jeffrey Toobin’s book A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Story of the Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down a President.

Beanie Feldstein will star as Lewinsky, Clive Owen as Bill Clinton, Annaleigh Ashford as Paula Jones, and Billy Eichner as journalist Matt Drudge.

Metro.co.uk has contacted Sarah Paulson and FX for comment.

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