Precious star laughs off embarrassing gaffe about her weight as film sweeps NAACP awards

February 28th, 2010 | KUKUPenis Eye | 1 Comment

It was a glittering night for Precious star Gabourey Sidibe when her movie swept the board at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People awards.

But a gaffe by the film’s director left her shaking her head in embarrassment when he referred to her character’s weight.

The 26-year-old actress looked horrified when Lee Daniels implied she weighed 25 stone.’No one in Hollywood told me they wanted to see a movie about a 350lb black girl who had HIV,’ he said.

Correcting himself Daniels quickly added: ‘She’s not 350lbs, Gabby.’

Then looking at her, he awkwardly faltered: ‘But the book says… before you were hired.’

Miss Sidibe, who has an Oscar nomination for her role in Precious, was caught on camera shaking her head during Daniels’ gaffe at the NAACP awards ceremony.

The director attempted to correct his mistake as he picked up the best film award on Friday night.

‘Ok. I wanted that in there. Thank you,’ she said, patting Daniels on the shoulder following his inadvertent insult.
She later picked up her own NAACP award as best actress for her role and was manhandled by Chris Rock, who was presenting her with the award.

As she arrived on stage, he went to grab her around the hips, as she screamed with laughter and stopped him moving his hands any further.

‘It’s an honour to be nominated, but it’s awesome to win,’ she screamed, before breaking down in tears as she thanked her co-stars.

She added a dedication ‘all the Precious girls everywhere. This is for you.’
The film tells the story of the abused, illiterate Harlem teenager Precious, who is expecting her second child.

It won six awards including best movie, best director, best independent movie and best actress.

Mo’Nique, who plays Precious’ mother, took best supporting actress just over a week before the Oscars, where she is hot favourite to win the same prize.

Precious, which is up for the Oscar for best picture, also features Mariah Carey as a dowdy social worker and Lenny Kravitz as a delivery room nurse.
Morgan Freeman was named best actor for playing former South African President Nelson Mandela in Invictus.

R&B singer Mary J Blige won music two awards, for best female artist and best album for Stronger With Each Tear.

Wyclef Jean was given the Vanguard Award for his role in raising funds and awareness after the earthquake in Haiti.

The oldest U.S. civil rights organization, the NAACP, has given out the Image awards for 41 years to honor people of color in TV, film, music and literature.

Shock: Gabourey Sidibe roars with laughter as Lee Daniels accepts the award for outstanding motion picture at the 41st NAACP Image Awards

Handful: Chris Rock plays up to the cameras and goes for more than a hug from best actress winner Gabourey Sidibe

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Gaffe: Director Lee Daniels (L) spoke implied that Precious actress Gabourey Sidibe weighed 25 stone during an acceptance speech at the NAACP awards