A billboard in Pell City, Alabama is stirring up controversy by attempting to neg its prospective members with an insulting billboard.
Pell City Gym owner Scott Campbell recently posted a large sign outside of the gym which reads, “Tired of being fat and ugly? Just be ugly!”
Since the billboard was put up on May 15, city officials have insisted that Campbell remove the sign or pay a fine. However, Campbell is attempting to resist the verdict for as long as possible, according to a video posted on his Facebook page.
“They’ve given me til 5 o’clock tomorrow evening to take it down. So it’s going to stay up ’til 4:50 tomorrow afternoon,” Campbell says in the video.
In a second video, Campbell explains that the sign isn’t meant to be mean — just attention-grabbing.
“I’m not a mean-spirited guy,” he insists. “This sign is a playful jab, it’s supposed to be an attention-grabber. I love people, I care about people, and I don’t care if you’re ugly or not. I can help you get in shape, and that’s the attitude of the sign.”
“People had a hard time finding us. I wanted something that was kind of catchy,” Campbell added in an interview with WVTM.
People are extremely divided about whether the sign is offensive or funny.
“I get the humour and think it’s tongue in cheek! Not offensive and shouldn’t have to come down,” one commenter wrote under the video.
“My opinion is that the sign is making it harder on [people] being bullied already,” another commenter disagreed.
Campbell has set up a GoFundMe page with the intent to raise $1,000 so he can pay the fine and keep up the sign. Thus far, he has only raised $255.
… Which, honestly, isn’t surprising. It’s kind of difficult to work up enthusiasm for supporting someone’s right to call people “fat.”