A sobbing teenage girl was forced to stand up for herself when a church leader cornered her in the bathroom to tell her she was too fat to wear shorts.
Jenna, from Swansboro, North Carolina, posted a video to Twitter after one of her church leaders followed her in to bathroom during choir practice to tell her her shorts were not ‘appropriate’ for a ‘chubby girl’.
The incident is believed to have taken place at the Swansboro United Methodist Church on Sunday last week.
The woman, named only as Bonnie Sue, told Jenna another girl at their church was also ‘chubby’ but wore a dress that ‘comes to about the top of her knees’ and was therefore ‘appropriate’.
When Jenna asks ‘so you’re calling me fat’, Bonnie Sue says ‘oh you don’t think you are?’ As Jenna bursts in to tears she begins to defend herself saying ‘I love who I am. Get out of my face’
And when Jenna asks ‘so you’re calling me fat’, Bonnie Sue says ‘oh you don’t think you are?’
As Jenna bursts in to tears she begins to defend herself saying ‘I love who I am. Get out of my face.’
Bonnie Sue says: ‘I don’t have to and don’t swear at me like that.’
And when Jenna replies ‘I don’t give a s**t’ she says: ‘I do. That’s your problem. You don’t give a s**t. Don’t come back on that stage with those shorts on.’
Jenna had gone in to the bathroom during a break in choir practice at her church when Bonnie Sue followed her inside.
Despite fighting back tears Jenna chokes on her sobs in an effort to stand up for herself.
She says: ‘Who are you to tell me what I am supposed to do. No, get the f*** out of my face. Get out. I am not two years old and I can do what I want.’
‘I have been recording this entire time. And I am never coming back to this church because you are so disrespectful. So disrespectful.’
The woman, whose name is Bonnie Sue, told Jenna another girl at their church was also ‘chubby’ but wore a dress that ‘comes to about the top of her knees’ and was therefore ‘appropriate’
As Bonnie Sue makes her way out of the bathroom she is met by Jenna’s parents, who heard her shouting and wanted to know what had happened.
Before Bonnie Sue can say anything, Jenna tells them: ‘She called me fat’.
As her father tells her to go back inside the bathroom the only defence Bonnie Sue has is ‘she’s in there swearing’.
In a separate post Jenna said: ‘My pastor has said she will never be able to be on any sort of committee/any leadership role ever again.
Jenna also posted pictures of the outfit she was wearing alongside the video. Ironically her jumper had the definition of the word Agape written on it
Jenna captioned the images: ‘Here is the outfit I was wearing that she attacked me… also please read my shirt because what she did was not agapé love’
‘Also my mother bought me these shorts and she would never let me out of the house, let alone to church, in booty shorts.
‘I am absolutely astonished someone can have this much hate in heir heart.
‘Luckily I was recording her so that my pastor can see the real side to her because she loves to be two-faced and act all holy.’
In a separate post Jenna said: ‘My pastor has said she will never be able to be on any sort of committee / any leadership role ever again’
Jenna’s post was met with an influx of support as celebrities including plus-size model Tess Holliday and US comedian Ashley Nicole Black commented.
Tess Holliday said: ‘You can wear whatever the hell you want. I’m sorry this happened to you.’
And Ashley Nicole Black added: ‘I’m so hurt and angry on your behalf right now! I’m so sorry this happened, but so happy you stood up for yourself. You’re beautiful and it’s so cool that you sing at church!!’
Others were quick to ask Jenna to keep them updated with what happens to Bonnie Sue.
Jenna said: ‘I’m meeting with the pastors soon to talk with them again and see what has been said and done. I will update you guys and let you know what’s happening to her.
Jenna had gone in to the bathroom during a break in choir practice at her church when Bonnie Sue followed her inside
‘My mother almost caught a charge. My parents could hear me screaming and came running cause they knew it was me.
‘The guy at the end of the video was my dad, he was trying to get me out of there.’
Jenna also posted pictures of the outfit she was wearing alongside the video. Ironically her jumper had the definition of the word Agape written on it.
It reads: ‘God’s unconditional and unending love.’
Jenna captioned the images: ‘Here is the outfit I was wearing that she attacked me… also please read my shirt because what she did was not agapé love.’