Fit “Fat-Shaming” Mom Responds to Critics on “Today” Show

The fit mom of three accused of "fat-shaming" women with a photo that went viral appeared on the "Today" show on Thursday to sound off on her critics.

Maria Kang said she understands why some people are annoyed, but adds that most have found the photo inspiring.

"I think they see it as, you know, I have a child, or I have tow and if she can do it, so can I," Kang told the "Today" show anchors.

Kang, 32, posted a photo of herself on Facebook in a sports bra, shorts and surrounded by her three young sons with a tagline "What's Your Excuse?" Her goal, she said, was to inspire people to get healthy with her washboard abs and post-baby body.

But the onslaught of negative comments about the "fat-shaming" photo prompted Kang to post a follow-up tongue-in-cheek response to the naysayers. The post has amassed over 200,000 likes and 30,000 comments as of Thursday morning.

"I'm sorry you took an image and resonated with it in such a negative way," Kang wrote on Facebook. "What I WILL say is this. What you interpret is not MY fault. It's Yours."

Kang wrote on her website that she is “fitness blogger and director of a fitness non-profit organization,” who also manages residential care home facilities. She is not a personal trainer, as some reports claimed, and has to make time for fitness just like "any other mom."

"I just make it a priority," Kang said on the show.

Click on the video above to see the full "Today" show interview.

 
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