Mindy Kaling recently shared a deeply personal story about a formative interaction with two of her comedic idols, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. Appearing on Poehler's podcast "Good Hang" on Tuesday, Kaling recalled the first time she met the duo while guest writing on "Saturday Night Live" in 2005, when both were cast members.
A Pivotal Moment in 2005
Kaling described an exchange that has stuck with her for nearly two decades. "I remember this story, and I'm not proud of it," she said, emphasizing her admiration for the two women. "We were somewhere, and I was like, 'I just want to lose 30 pounds,' and the two of you stopped and were like, 'What? That's too much weight.'" Kaling recalled feeling overjoyed for weeks afterward. "I was like, 'Wow, Amy and Tina don't think I'm a fat load.' I was so happy."
Poehler responded warmly, "No, no Mindy, never," dismissing Kaling's self-deprecating comment. The "Never Have I Ever" creator noted how this reaction stood out during a time when criticizing women's appearances was socially acceptable.
Women Supporting Women
Kaling reflected on the impact of Fey and Poehler's validation. "Even in the aughts, you guys were like, 'What? Are you crazy?'" she recalled. "And I always think, 'Why would I have told that to them?' That's so weird." Poehler assured her it wasn't unusual. "Well, I would say that — if we were to get real — that's how women talk to each other," Poehler said. "Just like everybody else, we're constantly trying to figure out everybody's relationship to being on camera. And I do think that, for better or for worse, what women do for each other and to each other is they talk about their bodies to each other."
Poehler added that she makes it a point not to discuss others' bodies. "Because it's like, people's bodies are their own business," she said. Kaling highlighted the kindness in their response: "I think really, it was a kindness for you to acknowledge."
Shared Experiences in the Industry
The three comedians have maintained mutual respect over the years. In 2015, Fey interviewed Kaling at New York's 92Y for Kaling's memoir "Why Not Me?" That same year, Kaling and Poehler traveled to the Cannes Film Festival to promote their Pixar film "Inside Out." During the podcast, they discussed how French journalists were blunt about criticizing their bodies. "'Why are you — why are you so fat?'" Kaling recalled in a French accent. Poehler added, "'You, you are smiling, but your face is not so nice to look at. If your face is not so nice, why do you think people like to look at it?'"
Kaling emphasized that the support from Fey and Poehler was especially meaningful because they acknowledged the issue rather than dismissing it. "I think to be able to be with two of my heroes and have them acknowledge — because you could have easily been like, 'We don't ever think about it. We're naturally thin,'" she said.
